story a marques of Italy For thys Barnarde wyth one Helberde had before tyme taken from the chyrche of Rome certeyne possessyons whyche by meane of thys Lewys the sentence of the chyrche denounced agayne them by the foresayd pope IohnÌ„ were agayn restored and the partyes also reconcyled But now of newe thys Barnarde rebelled agayne wherfore the pope as to Lewys for the defensour of the chyrch of Rome sent for ayde for as before I haue shewed you thys Lewys of the sayde pope IohnÌ„ was authorysed for emperoure But for he was not crowned at Rome wyth the imperyall dyademe he is not accoÌ„pted amonge y e emperours For thys newe rebellyon of Barnarde Lewys assembled hys armye at CoÌ„payne foresayd and froÌ„ thens rode to y e cytye of Troyes in UinceÌ„t where he was taken wyth sodayne malady of y e whyche he dyed shortly after and not wythout suspeccyon of venym whan he had ben kynge of Fraunce fully two yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys and Charlys or after some wryters Charlemayne THE CLXXV CHAPITER LEwys and Charlys the sonnes of Lewys Balbus or Lewys y e stamerer began theyr reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of oure lordes incarnacion .viii. C.lxxx and the .viii. yere of y e reygne of Alurede than kynge of Englande The whyche for they were yonge of age were put vnder tuyssyoÌ„ and gydyng of Barnarde the erle of Auuergii to whom the father by hys lyfe had theÌ„ commytted wherfore the sayd Barnarde wyth other of hys affynyte assembled shortly after at Meaux in Lorayne thyder called vnto them the lordes of the lande to treate maters for the comon weale of y e same In those dayes was a man of grete myght in FrauÌ„ce named GosseleynÌ„ the whyche enuyed the foresayd erle Barnarde other for certayne harmes to hym by them done in tyme be fore passed In auengynge wherof the sayd GosseleynÌ„ intended to putte hym and other from the rule of the land whych he knew well they shuld occupye whyle the sayd two childern had rule of the same And thys euyll purpose to brynge to effecte he went vnto Conrade erle of Parys and shewed to hym moche of his wyll And amonge other thynges lette hym wytte that yf Lewys kynge of Germany myght with hys helpe be made kynge of FrauÌ„ce that he shulde by hym be greatly auaunced By whych meanes he caused the sayde Conrade to take hys parte so that he other of hys affynyte whan they came vnto the foresayde counsayle at Meaux sayde that Lewys kynge of Germany was more apte to rule the lande of FrauÌ„ce than any other was And also after some wryters these Lewis and Charlys afore sayde were not the legyttymate sonnes of the forenamed Lewis Balbê° but gotten in baste of a concubyne of the sayd Lewys Thys mater thus debated and argued amonges the couÌ„sayle lastly by moste in nomber it was agreed that Lewys kynge of Germanye shulde be by ambassade requyred to come and take vppon hym the rule of the lande of myddell Fraunce The whych wyth small request was agreable and in shorte tyme after came vnto the sayd cytye of Meaux and after to Uerdune But as soone as the knowlege was come to Barnarde and other of hys affynyte by counceyle of Hughe and Terry two nobles of Fraunce the bysshop of Orlyaunce with an erle and other were sent to Uerdune vnto the sayd kynge of Germany wyth thys message That yf he were contente to take vnto hym all suche parte of the prouynce of Lorayne as Charlys the Balled kepte from hys fader Lewys wythout more clayme of the lande or realme of Fraunce he shuld gladly haue it And yf nat he shulde abyde the iugement of Mars and hys batayle wyth whyche offer Lewys was well contented and beyng of it in a suertye departed agayne into Germanye Thorough that doynge the forenamed Gosselyne and Conrade with other of theyr freÌ„dê were with yt sore dyscoÌ„tentyd of the departure of Lewys forsayde But the sayd Bernarde with other of his syde in goodly hast after coÌ„ueyed the sayd two chyldren vnto the citye of Ferrer there crowned and proclaymed theym for kynges as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gaguyne But the forenamed Gosselyne and Conrade not leuynge so the mater sente messengers vnto y e quene of Germanye coÌ„playnynge theym vnto her of the vnstablenesse and tymerousnesse of her lorde wherby he had not alonely loste the possessyon of the realme of Fraunce but also he hadde put them and all theyr frendes in great fere and daunger wherof herynge the quene in her mynde was sore dyscontentyd wyth her lorde and husbande and as she durste shewyd yt to hym as his reproche and dyshonour And fynally to satysfye the myndes of the sayde GosselynÌ„ and Conrade she sent into Guyan her brother named Boso by whose aydes and assystence he was of that prouynce proclaymed kynge Endurynge whyche trouble 's the Danys entred the lande and came vnto the ryuer of Lyger and robbed and spoyled the countrey wythoute mercy wherfore the kynges assembled theyr people and gaue to them batayll nere vnto the ryuer of Uyen where they dystressyd the sayde Danys and slewe of them .ix. thousand and drowned of theÌ„ ouer that a grete multytude in the sayde ryuer After whyche vyctory by the kynges obteyned a new vexacyon trouble was to them ascertayned y t Lewys kyng of Germany with a great puysaunce was comen vnto a place called Ducy and to hym was gone the forenamed GosselynÌ„ and Conrade with all the power that they myghte make by theyr ledynge was from thens coÌ„ueyed vnto Rybemaunt But howe so yt was for lacke of performaunce of promyse made by the sayde two erles vnto the kyng of Germany not obserued he herynge of the kynges of Fraunce drawynge towarde hym wyth stronge hoste coÌ„cluded a peas and retourned into Germany And the two bretherne rode to gyder vnto the citye of Damens or Demeus where they deuyded the lande of Fraunce betwene theym So that Lewes held to hym the couÌ„trey nere about Parys with the prouince of Neustria or Normandye and Charles had vnto his part Burgoyn and Guyan with promyse made assured on eyther partye that eyther of them shulde ayde and assyste other THE CLXXVI CHAPITER AFter this partycyon betwene the two bretherne thus made by the meanes of Lewys kynge of Germany the foresayde erles GosselynÌ„ Conrade were vnto the sayde bretherne recouncyled and agreed And for to theym redy worde was brought y â— Bose before named kyng of Guyan hadde wonne the cytye of Uyen therin lefte his wyfe whyle that he occupyed y e hylles and mountaynes beynge there aboute they ioyntly assembled theyr knyghtes sped theÌ„ thyther layde theyr seage aboute the cytye But durynge this syege the Danis often wasted y e land of Fraunce wherfore Lewys the elder brother departed froÌ„ that syege leuynge there his brother Charlys But or the sayde Lewis myght wyn to
Raynys whan he had reygned in great trouble .xxi. yeres leuynge for hys heyre a sonne named Lothayr Anglia THE CLXXXVIII CHAPITER EDmunde y e brother of EthelstanÌ„ and sonne of Edwarde the elder of Ethelwyda the thyrde wyfe of the sayd Edwarde begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .xl and the .vii. yere of the .v. Lewys thaÌ„ kynge of Fraunce In the fyrste yere of hys reygne the Danys of Northumberland rebelled agayne hym And for to make theyr party the stroÌ„ger they sent for a prynce of Danys named Aulaffe than beynge in Irlande The which brought wyth hym an other prynce or ruler of Danys named Reygnald wyth a great hoste of Danys other strauÌ„ge nacyons and entred the foresayd countre and warred vppon the next borders in wastynge and spoylynge the inhabytauÌ„tes of the same wherof whan kyng Edmund was warned anone he assembled his people and sped hym toward y e countre and lastly faught wyth the two sayd prynces of the Danys or at the leest chaced them from towne to towne tyll he forsyd them wyth all theyr coÌ„pany of straunge nacyons to forsake vtterly that prouynce and bet down that countre of Cumberlande y t had mych fauoured and ayded the sayde enmyes agayne hym and toke therin greate prayes and deuyded them amoÌ„ges hys knyghtes And y e done other for the good seruyce that MalcolynÌ„ kynge of Scotlande hadde in thys vyage done vnto the kynge or for the trowth and allegyaunce that he in tyme folowyng shulde bere vnto hym or for bothe the kynge gaue there to the sayd MalcolynÌ„ the countre of Cumberlande and seased all y e resydue of the kyngdom or lordshyp of Northumberlande and ioyned it vnto hys owne kyngdome But yet y e Danys retorned agayn in the tyme of Edredus the nexte kynge as after shal be shewed so that as yet the fyne or ende of thys kyngdome is not accompted In thys Edmundus dayes the authour of Polycronyca sayth that whan Edmunde hadde ended hys iourney and set that countree in an order he toke wyth hym the bones of the holy abbot Colfrydus and of that holy abbesse Hylda brought theym vnto Glastenbury and there shryned theym This Colfryde was abbot of Bedas abbey or of the abbey of Gyrwye Hilda was abbesse of Stenshalt or whytby And as affermeth y e sayd authour both places ben in y e North partyes of England Thys kynge Edwarde had a noble woman to wyfe named Elgina of whom he receyued two sonnes named Edwyne and Edgar And as testyfyeth Henry archedekeÌ„ of Huntyngdon thys Edward had ofte warre wyth the Danes the whyche as he affermeth helde than many good townes in myddle England as LyncolnÌ„ NothinghmÌ„ Derby Stafforde Laycetour y e which by his knyghtly manhode he wanne from them And by the helpe of holy Dunstan he ameÌ„ded many thynges within his realm y t had beÌ„ loÌ„ge tyme misordered by meane of y e Danys Of the ende or fyne of thys Edmunde dyuers opynyons there be For Marianus the Scot sayth that whyle thys kynge Edmunde endeuered hym selfe to saue his sewer froÌ„ the dauÌ„ger of hys enemye that wold haue slayne hym at Pulkerchyrche the kynge in ryddynge of the fraye was wounded to the deth and dyed shortly after But wyllyam de regibus sayth that the kynge beynge at a feest at y e foresayd towne or place vppon the daye of saynte Augustyne espyed a felon syttyng in y e halle named Leof whych he before tyme for hys felony hadde exyled and lept ouer the table and plucked that thefe by the here of the hedde to the grounde In whych doynge the sayd felon wyth a knyfe wounded the kynge to the deth and also wyth the same knyfe wounded many other of the kynges seruauntes and at length was all to hewen dyed forthwyth If this be trewe it shulde seme that kynges at those dayes vsed not the honour that they nowe haue and exercyse But whych of these two meanes was vsed in the kynges deth by agreemeÌ„t of all wryters thys kynge dyed whan he had reygned .vi. yeres and more was buryed at Glastenbury the whyche before he hadde sumptuously repayred and lafte after hym two yonge sonnes as before is remembred Edwyne and Edgar But for they were to yonge to rule the lande therfore y e rule therof was coÌ„mytted to Edredê° theyr vncle brother to theyr fader THE CLXXXIX CHAPITER EDredus y e brother of EdmuÌ„de and sonne of Edwarde the elder and of Ethylswyda hys thyrde wyfe began his reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lxvii and the xiii yere of the fyfte Lewys thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce The whych as before is towched was admytted kyng by authoryte of hys barony For so myche as the two forenamed chylderne of Edmunde Edwyn and Edgar were thought to yonge and insuffycyent to take vpon them so great a charge The whyche Edrede was enoynted kynge of Oddo archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury in y e towne of Kyngestowne And soone after he warred vpon the Danys that then were reentred into Northumberland or after some wryters there dwellynge vnder trybute of the kynge subdued before of Edmunde hys brother and bette theym downe and caused theym to holde and obeye vnto theyr former couenauntes And the Scottes than began to varye which he also brought vnto due obedyence After a certayne terme y e Danys of Northumberlande whyche euer contynued full of gyle and dowblenesse not beyng content to holde the couenauÌ„tes before made promisses vnto Edredus the kynge called vnto theym theyr olde accessaryes and helpers and bereuyd from the kynges subiectes the cytye of yorke and other stronge townes and castelles to the great hurte of the couÌ„trey and vtter dyspleasure of the kynge wherfore he beynge therof aduertysed in goodly and conuenyent haste assembled hys people and spedde hym thyther and destroyed myche of the lande And in that fury brent the abbey of Rypon whyche the Danys kept for a fortresse and strength and wan from them myche of the strengthes that they to fore had woÌ„ne and broughte theym agayne vnder hys subieccyon when this kynge Edrede had thus spedde hys iourney and was retournynge into Englande nothynge suspectynge the sayde Danys a company of them by the excytyng of Hyrcus a kyng or prynce of the Danys theÌ„ folowyd the kinges hoste and on thys halfe yorke fyll vppon the kynges rerewarde and destroyed slew many a man For the whyche doyng the kynge was sore amoued tourned hys people agayne entendynge to haue destroyed y e countrey vtterly wherof the Danys beynge ware so lowely meked theym vnto hym gaue to hym suche gyftes that the kyng refrayned hym of the great yre that he had purposed to theym But amonges other articles y t he bounde them vnto one was that they shuld banyshe and vtterly refuse theyr fore sayde duke or kynge called Hyrcus whyche thynge with dyuers and many other graunted
suche doynge for the ensample that therof myght ensewe The monkes sayde yetCryste alowed nother the olde dweller nor yet the persone But who so wolde take the crosse of penaunce vppon hym and folow Cryste in vertuous lyuynge he shulde be hys dyscyple For thys was holden a generall counsayle of bysshoppes and all the clergy of the land at wynchester where holy DuÌ„stane helde wyth the vertuous And whyle they were there in greate argument for thys mater as dyuers wryters testyfyeÌ„ a rode there beyng or standynge in the wall spake myraculously and sayd that Dunstanes wayes was good and trewe But for all thys the stryfe seased not In so mych that a new assemble of the clergye and other was appoynted after at a place called the strete of Calue where the counsayle was kept in an vpper lofte In thys counsayle DuÌ„stane was greuously despysed and rebuked of some vnskylfull meÌ„ But yet he kept hys opynyon grounded vpon iustyce and vertue And whyle they were there in thys greate dyuysyon and argument whyche waye shulde be admytted and alowed sodeynly the ioystes of the lofte fayled and the people fell downe so y t many were slayne greuously hurte But holy Dunstane escaped wyth fewe other that toke hys partye vnhurte This wonder with the other caused sylence amonges them that enteÌ„ded to maynteyne this foresayd quarell so that Dunstane had all hys wyll Thus passynge the tyme of the reygne of Edwarde the kynge he came vppon a season from huntyng in the forest or woode after some wryters nere to the castell of Corfe in y e west countre where he losynge hys company and seruauntes resorted vnto the castell before sayd where at that tyme hys moder with her sonne Egelredê° kept her housholde whan the quene was warned of hys commynge anone she called to a seruauÌ„t of hers whych she mych trusted and tolde to hym all her counsayle shewynge to hym forther how he shulde behaue hym in accomplysshynge of her wyll and mynde And that done she went towarde the kynge and receyued hym wyth all outwarde gladnesse and desyred hym to tary wyth her that nyght But he in curteyse maner excused hym selfe for spede desyred to drynke vpon hys horse syttyng y e whych was shortly brought And whyle the cuppe was at hys mouth the seruaunt before of the quene enfourmed strake hym to the herte wyth a sworde or a longe dagger sharpe on both sydes After whiche stroke by the kynge receyued he toke the horse wyth the spores and ranne towarde the place that he was comen fro or ellys suche waye as he supposed to mete of hys company But he bled so sore that for fayntnes he fyll from hys horse hys one fote beynge faste in the styrroppe By reason wherof he was drawen of y e horse ouer wayes and feldes tyll he came to a place named than Corysgate where he was founden dede And for y e maner of hys deth was vnknoweÌ„ â–ª and also he for kynge not knowen he was buryed vnworthely at the towne of warehmÌ„ and there rested by the terme of .iii. yeres after In whyche tyme and season god shewed for hym dyuers myracles as syghte to the blynde helthe to the syke and herynge to y e defe wyth dyuers other whyche I ouer passe wherof herynge hys stepmoder began to take repentaunce and entended to vysyte hym by way of pylgrymage But how or for what cause she entended inwardly I can nat saye but the horse or beest y t she rode vpon myght not nyghe y e place by a certayne space for betynge or any other thynge that to hym myght be done by man But after this by her meanes he was translated from theÌ„s to SeptonÌ„ that now is called Shaftesbury there buried with great honour But syn that tyme parte of his bodye was translated to the abbaye of Leof besyde Hereforde in the edge of walys and some parte therof to AbyndonÌ„ And yt is reported that at Shaftesbury remayne hys lunges and ben shewed in the place that is called Edwardysstowe For the murder of this blessed man yt is sayde as before is shewed in the story of Edgar that his stepmother fouÌ„ded two monasteryes of women y e one at Ambrisbury and that other at warwell In the whyche place of warwell in her latter dayes she refusynge the pompe of the worlde helde there a solytary and strayte lyfe and ended her lyfe wyth great penaunce and repentaunce and was there buryed when she dyed Thus as ye haue harde was this vertuous yonge kynge Edwarde martyred wheÌ„ he had reygned after most wryters .iiii. yeres leuyng none yssue wherfore the rule of the lande fyll to Egelredus his brother THE CXCVII CHAPITER EGelredus the sonne of Edgar and Alfrida or Estryld his last wyfe beganne his reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix huÌ„dred .lxxxi and the .xxvi. yere of Lothayre then kynge of Fraunce This is named of some wryters Etheldredus and in the englyshe cronycle Eldrede In whose begynnyng the grounde waxed bareyne and all myseryes before bodyd by the apperynge of the blasynge starre in the dayes of Edwarde the martyr nowe beganne to take place and encreace vppon the erth This as the other of his ê“genytours was crowned kyng at Kyngestone of the holy archbysshoppe Dunstane and of Oswalde archebyshop of yorke To whome as yt is redde in the lyfe of saynt Dunstane amonges his prophecyes that in the day of his coronacyon he sayd vnto the kynge for thou comest to this kingdome by the deth of thy brother in whose deth Englyshemen coÌ„spyred with thy wykked moder they shall not be wythout blood shedynge and sworde tyll there come people of vnknowen tunge and brynge them into thraldome And thys trespace shall not be clensyd wythoute longe vengeaunce Of this Egelredê° wryters agreen that he was goodly of shappe and of vysage but that was mynged wyth lechery and cruelty It is also redde that when holy Dunstane shuld crysten hym as he helde hym ouer the fonte he felyd the holy lyker wyth y e fruyte of his wombe wherfore holy Dunstane sware by god and by hys mother this shal be vnkynde to god and his chyrche whych fayled not in his forth goynge for he was vngracyous in his begynnynge wretched in y e myddell of his lyfe and hatefull to men in the ende therof In the seconde yere of his reygn a cloude was sene in Englande the whyche appered halfe lyke blood the other halfe lyke fyre and chaunged after into sundry colours dysaperyd at the laste In the thyrd yere of his reygn y e Danys aryued in sundry places of his lande as in the yle of Thanet besyde Kente in Cornewayll and Sussex and dyd in those costes myche harme And after some of theym came to London but there they were put of How be yt they destroyed a great part of Chestershyre And in the ende of the same yere a great parte of the cytye of London was wasted with fyre
Andrewe Trollop dysceyued the lordes folio cciii A letter sent by Edward the .iii. vnto the kyng of Fraunce fo xciiii Agrement was made with the Scottes folio lxiii Answere made by the French kynge to kyng Edwardes letter fo xcv Answere made by the French kynge to kynge Henry fo clxxi Ambassade sent by the French kynge into Englande fo lxxxix Ambassade sent agayne by the sayde kynge folio lxxxix Ambassade sent into Fraūce fo lxxxix Ambassade sent frō the pope fo ccviii A parte of London brydge fylle into Thamys fo lxxxix Ayde graunted by kynge Iohan. folio cxxiii Ayde was graunted by the inhabytauntes of the countre of Languedok folio cxxiiii Archebysshoppe of Orleaunce was slayne fo lxx Archbysshop of Caunterbury was slayne folio cxlii Archebysshop of Caunterbury maketh a collacyon folio cliiii Archebysshop of yorke wyth other was taken in batayle fo clxvii Artycles of treason layde agayne syr Roger Mortymer fo lxxxviii Artycles of peace ratyfyed bytwene kynge Edwarde and kynge Iohn̄ folio cvi Artycles of dyspleasure shewed in wrytynge by the duke of Glocester agayne the bysshop of wynchester folio clxxx Archebysshop of yorke ouerturneth the Scottes folio xcix Artycles of peace concluded bytwen the erle of Flaunders and hys subiectes folio cxxxix Assembles made by lordes fo cxliiii Annyuersary honourable was foūden in Poulys chyrche fo cxi Auoutry was espyed fo ccxiii BArons warre began to grow in the .xli. yere of kyng Henry the thyrde folio xxx Barōs warre receyued and of newe kyndeled in the .xliiii. yere of Henry the thyrde folio xxxiii Barons assembled theyr companyes in the marches of wales in the .xlvi yere of the sayd kynge fo xxxiiii Barons entred the cytye of London folio xxxv Barōs dyscorded among them selfe folio xxxviii Barons were chasyd the .xiiii. yere of Edwarde the seconde fo lxxix Batayle of Lewys bytwene kynge Henry the .iii. the barons fo xxxvii Batayle called the whyte batayle loke in the .xi. yere of Edwarde the seconde folio lxxvii Batayle of Burbrydge bytwen king Edwarde the seconde and the barōs in hys .xiiii. yere fo lxxix Batayle very cruell agaynste the Scotte called Halydon fo lxxxix Batayle of Swyn or Sluce vppon the see bytwene the Frenchmen and Edwarde the thyrde in the .xv. yere of hys reygne fo xciii Batayle of Cressey in the .xxi. yere of Edwarde the thyrde fo xcviii Batayle of Potyers bytwene kynge Edwarde the thyrde and the French kynge folio ciii Batayle bytwene kynge Phylyp of Fraunce and the towne of Cassile in Flaunders fo cxvii Batayle of Shrowysbery in the .iii. yere of Henry the fourth fo clxvii Batayle at Blak pole in the .vi. yere of Henry the .iiii. fo clxvii Batayle of Agyncourt in the thyrde yere of Henry the .v. fo clxxii Batayle of saynte Albons fyrste the xxxiii yere of Henry the .vi. fo cc. Blore heth felde apperys in y e .xxxvii yere of kynge Henry the .vi. fo cciii Batayle of Ludlowe as it doth appere in folio cciii Batayle of Northamton as appereth in folio cciiii Batayle of wakefelde apperys and the batayle of sayn Albons fo ccv Batayle of yorke or Towton or Shyrborne fo ccvi Barnet felde fo ccxix Batayle of Tewkesbury fo ccxx Bartrā de Cleycō warred in Spayn and chasyd the kynge fo cix Blasynge sterre apperys in folio .xc. and fo cxviii and fo clix Blanke charters vses in Eng. fo cli Brekyng of peace bytwen England and Fraunce loke in the .xliii. yere of kynge Edwarde the .iii. fo cxi Brest a stronge towne of Brytayne besyeged fo cxiii Benyuolence was fyrste foūded and graūted in Edwarde the .iiii. dayes folio ccxxv Bysshop Groostehede and of his actes apperyth in y e .xxxiii. yere of kyng Henry the thyrde folio xxvi Bysshop of Exceter was beheded apperyth in the .xviii. yere of Edwarde the seconde folio lxxxii Bysshop of Norwyche made warre in Spayne by the popes cōmaundement in the .vi. yere of Rycharde the seconde folio cxliii Bysshop of London hath a memory of the cytesyns of London fo cxlvii Bysshop of wynchester lent to kyng Henry the fyfte .xx. thousand poūde folio clxxvii Bysshop of wynchester foresayd created cardynall folio clxxx Bysshop of Salysbury was slayne in the ende of .xxviii. of Henry the .vi. as more playnly is shewed fo cxcviii Bysshop of Chychester called Reynolde Pecok was abiured of heresye folio ccii Boke of prophecy was founden by a Iewe in Spayne folio xxiiii Blode of Cryste was broughte into westmynster by kynge Henry the .iii. folio xxv Bonifacius pope of hys cōdycyons folio lxxi Bull of the pope manyfested at Poulys crosse folio xxxiii Busshe Baggot and Grene and of theyr actes folio cli Brytōs resyst y e Frenchmē fo xxxix CHarles the .v. of that name surnamed the fayre and brother to Phylyp surnamed the longe sonne of the .iiii. Phylyp began hys reygne ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of grace M.iii. hundreth and .xxii and the .xv. yere of the secōd Edwarde kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .vi. folio lxxxiiii Cardynalles that were sent into Englande from the pope were robbed appereth in the .ix. yere of Edwarde the seconde folio lxxvi Caen a stronge towne in Normandye besyeged by kynge Edward the thyrde and won it folio xcviii Calys besyeged and gotten by kyng Edwarde the thyrde folio xcix Cardynall sent from the pope laboured for peas folio ciii Castell of Pount was yolden vp by appoyntement folio cxxv Careckes .iii. were taken by the duke of Clarence and the erle of Kente folio clxvii Charyte of kynge Lewys folio i. Charles de Ualoys brother to Phylyppe le Beawe vncle vnto Charles the .v. foresayd dyed folio lxxxvi Charles de Bloys was slayne in the batayle bytwene syr Iohn̄ Mountforte and the sayd Charlys fo cix Charles the .vi. of that name sonne of Iohn̄ bēganne to rule the French men in the yere of our lorde M.iii. C.lxiiii .xxxviii. yere of the thyrde Edwarde kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .xvi. folio xxxvi Charles the .vii. of y e name a yonge chylde and sonne of the .vi. Charlys began hys reygne ouer Fraunce in the moneth of september and yere of our lorde a thousand .iii. hūdreth and lxxx and the thyrde yere of the secōde Rycharde then kyng of Englande reygned yeres .xlii. folio clv. Charles the .viii. of that name and sonne vnto Charles the .vi. as sayen the Frenche authours but the Englysshe wryters sheweth the cōtrary as in the story of thys Charles shall appere thys began to reygne ouer y e Frenchmen in the yere of our lorde thousande .iii. hūdreth and .xxii and the laste yere of Henry the .v. thenne kynge of England reygned yeres xxxvi folio ccvii Chauntryes foūded in Poulys churche in London fo cxi Cerymonyes for the coronacyon of kynge Henry the .iiii as appereth folio clxiii Creacyō of dukes by kyng Rychard the .ii. fo cxliii Clement pope
to the value of a M. marke sterlynge Upon a tuysdaye beyng the fyrste day of Iuly was foughten a batayll at Parys betwene two knyghtes wherof the appellaunte was named syr Foukes Dorciat and the defendauÌ„t syr Maugot Mawbert whych appellauÌ„t was sore vexed with a feuer quarteyne by reason wherof and of the great hete that y e day appered after longe fyght the sayd appellauÌ„t lyght from hys horse for hys refresshemeÌ„t wherfore hys frendes of hym were in great doute But his enemye was also so sore trauayled y t what for hete laboure he was also ouercome was lykely to haue fallen froÌ„ hys horse and or he myght be taken downe he swowned dyed whan syr Fowkes was ware of y e feblenesse of hys enemye anon as he might he dressed hym on fote toward hys aduersary fande hym starke dede whyche by lyceÌ„ce of the kynge was after had out of the feelde and secretlo buryed the sayde syr Fowkes for feblenesse was by hys freÌ„des ladde vnto hys lodgyng In the .xii. yere of kynge IohnÌ„ xxi day of Nouembre Phylyp duke of Burgoyn erle of Artoys of Aluerne and of Boloyngn a chylde of the age of .xiiii. yeres or lesse dyed at a town nere vnto Rome called GuyoÌ„ By reason of whose deth kyng IohnÌ„ as nexte heyre had after possession of al the sayd laÌ„des toke possioÌ„ therof shortly after In the .xiiii. yere of the reygne of kyng IohnÌ„ thyrd day of Ianuary he for specyall causes hym mouyng as for the enlargyng of his sonne the duke of Orleaunce other yet pledges for hys rauÌ„some toke shyppyng at Boloyne so sayled into EnglaÌ„d and arryued at Douer the .vi day of the sayde moneth and after yode to Eltham and from theÌ„s was coÌ„ueyed vnto LoÌ„don as before is shewed in the .xxxvii. yere of kyng Edward In tyme of whose there beyng syr BarthraÌ„ de Glaycon made warre vpoÌ„ the kynge of Nauerne wan from hym the towne of Maunt in Normandy And by the duke of NormaÌ„dy soone after was wonne from the sayd kyng the towne of MeÌ„leÌ„ce within y e which were taken dyuers Parysyens that shortly after for theyr infidelite were put in execucioÌ„ at Parys And thus the warre betwene the kynges of FrauÌ„ce Nauerne was newly begoÌ„ Than kynge IohnÌ„ beyng as before is sayde in Englande a greuous malady toke hym in the begynnynge of Marche of the whyche he dyed at London vpoÌ„ the .viii. daye of Apryll folowynge so wyth great honoure and solempnyte coÌ„ueyed to the sees syde and there shypped thaÌ„ in processe caryed into Fraunce where vpon the .vii. day of May and yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii he was solempnely enterred in the monastery of saynt Denys whaÌ„ he had reygned .xiii. yeres .vii. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym thre sonnes that is to say Charles whych was kyng after hym Lewys and Phylyp CArolus or Charles y e .vi. of that name or .v. after som writers y e eldest sonne of kyng IohnÌ„ beganne hys reygne ouer the realme of FrauÌ„ce the .ix. day of Apryll in the begynnynge of the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii and the .xxviii. yere of Edwarde the the .iii. than kynge of Englande and was crowned with dame Iane hys wyfe at Raynes the .xix. day of May folowynge In thys fyrste yere syr Barthran de Glaycon lyeutenaunt of the sayde Charles in NormaÌ„dy fought with a capytayne of the kynge of Nauerne named le Captall de Bueffe nere vnto a place called Cocherell nere vnto the crosse of saynte Lyeffroy in whiche fyght the sayd Captall was scomfited and great noumbre of his people taken and slayne hym selfe chased taken for whome the frenche kynge gaue after vnto the sayde syr BarthraÌ„ the Erledam of Longeuyle And whaÌ„ he had receyued him he sent him vnto a stroÌ„ge pryson called the Merchy in Meaux At Myghelmas folowynge the duke of Brytayne syr Charlys de Bloyes and syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort sonne and heyre to the fore named sir IohnÌ„ Mountforde before dede whiche by a longe season bothe father the sonne had holden warre with the sayd syr Charles met in playne batayle in y â— which as before is shewed in the .xxxviii. yere of king Edwarde the sayde syr Charles was slayne dyuers noble men of Fraunce with him In the moneth of Iuny and seconde yere of this Charlys an other accorde was yet concluded atwene this Charles and the kynge of Nauerne By reason of whiche accorde the Captall of Bueffe was clerely delyuered and Maunt and Menlene agayne also to the kynge restored And ouer that to the kynge of Nauerne was geuyn for a recompensement the Erledome of Longeuyle whiche as aboue is sayd the frenche kyng had gyuen vnto syr Barthran de Glaycon for to haue the Captall to his prisoner And also to the sayde kynge of Nauerne was gyuen the lordshyppe of Mountpyller And in the moneth of February began the warre in Spayne where prince Edwarde ayded Peter kyng of y e lande as before is shewed iÌ„ the .xl. and .xlii. yeres of kynge Edwarde In the .iiii. yere the peace atwene the kynges of Englande of FrauÌ„ce began to breke by meanes of the erle of Armenake other as in the .xlii. yere of kynge Edwarde is before shewed And in the moneth of Decembre and the sayd yere the quene was lyghted of a man Chylde in the Hostell of saynt Paule the whiche was after christened with excedynge solempnyte ouer other before passed in the churche of saint Paule in Parys the .vi. day of Decembre of the cardinal of Parys To whome were godfathers the erles of Mountmerency and of Dampmartyn godmother Iane quene of Euroux and bare the name of Charlys after the erle of Mountmerency In the .v. yere of this Charlys he called his counsell of parlyament at Parys Durynge the whiche the appellacyons of the erle of armenake and other purposed ageyne prynce Edwarde were publysshed and radde the answeres of the said prince vpon the sayd appellacyons made whiche I ouerpasse for length of the mater But the conclusyon was that the prince had broken the peas and couenauntes of the same as they there demyd wherfore all suche townes holdes as the frenche kyng had gotten he shulde them retayne make warre vpon the kynge of Englande for the recouery of the other where vpon kynge Charles in the moneth of Iuly folowyng rode vnto Roan and there rygged his nauye entendynge as sayth the frenche historye to haue made warre vpon EnglaÌ„d and to haue sent thyther his yongest brother Philippe than duke of Burgoyne with a stronge armye But whyle he was there besyed about his purpose the duke of Lancastre arryued with a strong power at Caleys and so passed to Tyrwyn so vnto Ayr. wherfore kynge Charlys then chaunged his purpose and sent his sayde brother into those ê‘ties Then by that season that y e sayd duke was prepared with hys people the englysshemen were
yere of Cutbert than kyng of westsaxons reygned yeres .x. Here endeth the lyne of Meroneus begynneth the lyne of Pepyn ca. c.xlix folio .lxxix. Sygebertus the neuewe of Cutbert began hys reygne ouer the westsaxoÌ„s in the yere of our lord .vii. C. xlv the .v. yere of Hyldericus the second than kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .ii. ca. c.l. fo lxxx Kenulphus of the blode lyne of Cerdicus begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer the westsaxoÌ„s in the yere of our lord .vii. C. .xlviii and y e .vii. yere of Hyldericus thaÌ„ king of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .xxxi. ca. c.li fo lxxxi Pipinus the secoÌ„d sonne of Charles Martellus was fyrst made king of FrauÌ„ce of y e blode in y e yere of our lord .vii. C. .l and the second yere of Kenulphus thaÌ„ kyng of westsaxoÌ„s reygned yeres .xviii. ca. c.liii fo lxxxi Carolomanus wyth Charlys surnamed y e great sonnes of Pepyn began to reygne ouer FrauÌ„ce in y e yere of our lord .v. C.lxviii the .xx. yere of Kenulphus and reygned yeres ioyntly and Charles alone .xlvii. This Charles was y e fyrst emperour of Romayns of the stok of the FreÌ„ch men and reygned .xiiii. yeres ca. c.liiii fo lxxxiii Brightricus of the forenamed blod of Cerdicus was made kyng of westsaxons in the yere of our lord .vii. C.lxxvii and y e .x. yere of Charles than king of FrauÌ„ce reygned yeres .xvii About the .ix. yere of thys kynge the Danes fyrste entred this ile as more playnly apereth in y e story folowyng ca. c.lvii fo lxxxvi Egbertus or after the Englysshe boke Edbryght the sonÌ„ of Alumundus begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer the westsaxoÌ„s in y e yere of our lord .vii. C.lxxx and .xv iÌ„ the. .xxvii. yere of Charles than kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .xxxviii. Thys kyng coÌ„maunded the SaxoÌ„s to be Anglys Brytayn to be named Anglia that in EnglaÌ„d ca. c.lviii fo lxxxvi Lodouicus the fyrste of y e name sonne of Charles the great beganne to reygne as emperour and kyng of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of our lord .viii. C and .xv y e .xx. yere of Egbertus thaÌ„ kyng of westsaxons and reygned yeres .xxvi. ca. c.lix fo lxxxvii Adeulphus or Ethelwolphus the sonne of Egbertus began hys reygn ouer the westsaxoÌ„s and other in the yere of our lord .viii. C. and .xxxii and the .xvi. yere of Lowys the fyrst than kyng of FrauÌ„ce reygned yeres .xxii ca. c.lxii fo xci Charles the second of that name yongest sonne of the fyrste Lowys surnamed Balled beganne to reygn ouer the west parte of Fraunce in the yere of our lord .viii. C. .xli the .ix. yere of Adeulphus and reygned yeres .xxxviii. The countre of Flaunders in thys Charles dayes began fyrste to bere name as after in the ende of hys story is shewed ca. c.lxiii fo xcii Ethelwaldus the eldest sonne of Adeulphus began hys reygne ouer the westsaxoÌ„s in the yere of our â—ord viii C. .lv and the .x. yere of Charles the Balled than kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned but one yere ca. c.lxvii folio .xcvi. Ethelbertus the seconde sonne of Adeulphus was auctorysed kynge of westsaxoÌ„s in the yere of our lorde viii C. and .lvi the .xi. yere of Charles the Ballyd yet kyng of Fraunce and reygned yeres .vi. In the tyme of thys kynges reygne the .vii. Iohan whyche was a womaÌ„ was admitted for pope aboute the yere of oure lorde .viii. C.lviii as sayth Iacobus Phylyppus ca. c.lxviii fo xcvi Etheldredus the thyrde sonne of Adeulphus was made kyng of westsaxons wyth other in the yere of our lorde .viii. C. .lxiii the .xviii. yere of Charles forenamed yet kynge of FrauÌ„ce reygned yeres .viii. In the tyme of thys kynges reygne saynte Edmond kynge of Eest Angles was martyred of the princys Danus and Martyrus ca. c.lxix fo xcvi Aluredus or Alphredus the .iiii. sonne of Adeulphus in y e yere of our lorde .viii. C.lxxii began hys reygne ouer the westsaxoÌ„s the .xxxi. yere of Charles forenamed yet kynge of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .xxviii. ca. clxxi fo xcviii Lowys Balbus the secoÌ„d of that name sonne of Chales the balled began hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in y e yere of grace .viii. C.lxviii and the .vi. yere of Alerude thaÌ„ kyng of westsaxons reygned yeres .ii. ca. c.lxxiiii fo ci Lowys Charles the sonnes of Lowys Balbus beganne to reygne ioyntly ouer y e FrenchmeÌ„ in the yere of our lord .viii. C. .lxxx the .viii. yere of Alurede than kyng of westsaxons and reygned yeres .v. ca. lxxv folio c.ii. Lowys the .iiii. of y e name sonne of Charles last remeÌ„bred began hys reygn ouer FrauÌ„ce in y e yere of grace viii C.lxxx and .vi the .xiiii. yere of Aluredus yet kyng of westsaxons reygned yeres viii ca. lxxvii fo c.iiii. Eudo or Oddo the sonÌ„ of Robert erle of Angeowe began hys reygne ouer the FreÌ„chmen in the yere of our lord .viii. C.lxxx .xv and the .xxiii. yere of Aluredus yet kyng of westsaxons and reygned yeres .ix. ca. lxxviii folio c.iiii. Edwarde surnamed the elder sonne of Alurede or Alphrede began hys reygne ouer the more part of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. C. and one the .vi. yere of Eudo than kynge of Fraunce reygned yeres xxiiii ca. c.lxxix fo c.iiii. Charles surnamed the Simple sonnÌ„ of the .iiii. Lowys beganen hys reygne ouer the realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of our lorde .ix. C.iiii y e .iii. yere of Edward than kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .xxiiii. ca. c.lxxxi fo c.vi Radulphus the sonne of Rychard duke of Burgoyne began his reygn ouer FrauÌ„ce in the yere of our lorde ix C. .xxii the .xxi. yere of Edward yet kyng of Englande reygned yeres .xii. ca. lxxxiii fo c.viii Ethelstanus the sonnÌ„ of Edward the elder begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer the more partye of England in y e yere of our lord .ix. C. .xxv. the thyrde yere of Rauffe thaÌ„ kyng of FrauÌ„ce reygned yeres .xvi. Thys kyng broughte Brytayne or EnglaÌ„de to one monarchy But yet after some wryters Alurede dyd it ca. c.lxxxiiii fo c.viii Lowys the .v. of that name and sonne of Charles the Symple begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer FrauÌ„ce in the yere of our lord .ix. C. .xxxiiii y e .ix. yere of Ethelstane thaÌ„ kyng of EnglaÌ„d reygned yeres .xxi. ca. c.lxxxvi fo c.x. EdmouÌ„d the brother of Ethelstane sonne of Edward the elder began hys reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d in the yere of our lord .ix. C. .xli. the .vii. yere of y e .v. Lowys than kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .vi. ca. c.lxxxviii folio c.xiii Edredus the brother of EdmouÌ„d begaÌ„ his reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d in the yere of our lorde .ix. .xlvii and y e .xiii yere of y e forenamed Lowys yet king of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .ix. ca. c.lxxxix
fo c.xiiii Lotharius the eldest sonn̄ of y e .v. Lowis was anoīted king of Fraūce in the yere of our lord .ix. C. .xl and viii yere of Edwardus thā kynge of Englād reygned yeres after moste wryters .xxxix. ca. c.xc fo c.xiiii Edwynus y e eldest son̄ of Edmoūd brother of Ethelstane was enoynted kyng of Englāde in the yere of oure lord .ix. C.lvi the secōd yere of Lothayre thā kyng of Fraūce reygned yeres .iii. ca. c.xcii fo c.xvi Edgarus the secōd sonn̄ of Edmoūd brother of Edwyn begā to reygne ouer Englād in the yere of grace .ix. C. .lx y e .v. yere of Lotharius than kyng of Fraūce reygned yeres .xvi ca. c.xciii fo c.xvi Edward the son̄ of Edgare surnamed the Martyr begā hys reygne ouer the I le of Englād in the yere of our lorde .ix. C.lxxvii the .xxii. yere of Lothayre yet kyng of Fraūce and reygned yeres .iiii. ca. c.xcvi fo c.xix. Egelredus y e sonn̄ also of Edgare was made kyng of Englād in y e yere of grace .ix. C.lxxx one the .xxvi. yere of Lothayre yet king of Fraūce and reygned yeres .xxxvi. ca. xcvii folio c.xx. Lowys y e .vi. of y e name sonne of Lothayr begā his reygn ouer Fraūc in y e yere of our lord .ix. C.lxxxvi the v. yere of Egelbertus thā king of England reygned yeres .iii. In thys kyng endeth the lyne of Pepyn ca. cc.i. fo c.xxiiii Hugt Capet y e sonn̄ of Roberte y e tyraūt descended of Hugh le graūde begā to take vppō hym or vsurpe the crowne of Fraūce in the yere of oure lord .ix. C. .ix and y e .ix. yere of Egelrede and ruled yeres .ix. ca. cc.ii. folio c.xxvi Robert the sonn̄ of Hughe began to reygne ouer the Frēchmē in y e yere of our lord .ix. C.lxxx and .xviii. yere of Egelredus than kyng of Englād and reygned yeres .xxx. ca. cc.iii folio c.xxvii Edmoūde Ironsyde the sonne of Egelredus with also Canutus y e son̄ of Swanus begā to reygn ouer Englāde in the yere of our lord M. and xvii y e .xix. yere of Robert thā kinge of Fraūce reygned one yere ca. cc.iiii fo c.xxvii Kanutus which in y e Englysh boke is named Knougth begā after the deth of Edmoūd to reygn alone ouer Englād in the yere of grace M. and xix the .xx. yere of Robert thā kyng of Fraūce and reygned yeres .xix. ca. cc.v fo c.xxviii Hēry the sonn̄ of Robert begā hys domynyō ouer Fraūce in the yere of our lord M. .xxix the .x. yere of Canutus thā king of Englād reygned yeres .xxxi. ca. cc.vii fo c.xxx Harolde surnamed Harefote y e son̄ Canutus began to reygne ouer England in the yere of our lorde M. and xxxix the .x. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce and ruled yeres .iii. ca. cc.viii fo c.xxxi Hardikynitus or Hardiknought y e son̄ of Canutus of Emma was made king of Englāde in the yere of our lord M. .xli the .xii. yere of Hēry thā kyng of Fraūce and reygned yeres .ii. In this kyng ended the line of the Danes that had cōtynued in thys lāde in great persecuciō aboue ii C.l. yeres ca. cc.ix. fo c.xxxii Edward the holy cōfessour son̄ of Egelredus and of Emma his laste wyfe begā hys reygn ouer the realm of Englād in the yere of oure lorde a M. and .xliii the .iiii. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce and reygned in vertue and holynes yeres .xxiiii. In this kynges tyme the chapell of walsynghm̄ was fyrst bylded in y e yere of our lord M.lxi. ca. cc.x. fo c.xxxiii Philippe the fyrst of y e name and son̄ of Hēry begā to gouerne y e Frēch mē in the yere of our lord a M.lxviii and the .xvi. yere of Edward the confessour thā kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .xlviii. Godfrey of Bulyō nat Boleyn̄ ī this Philippes tyme gat by strēgth the citie of Hierusalē was crowned king of y e same in the yere of our lord M.xcix. ca. cc.xv. fo c.xxxviii Harolde y e eldest son̄ of erle Goodwyn begā to reygn ouer Englyshmē in the yere of our lord M.lxvi and y e viii yere of Philippe than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres .ix. ca. cc.xvi fo c.xxxviii Thus endeth the .vi. parte that conteyneth .iii. C.lxxxi yeres WIllyam duke of Normādy the bastarde sonne of Robert the .vi duke of the sayd prouynce begā hys reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the .xv. day of Octobre and yere of our lord M.lxvii y e .ix. yere of y e fyrst Philipe yet kyng of Fraūce reygned yere vpō .xxii. In the .xx. yere of thys kyng the church of saint Poule wyth a great parte of Lōdon was burned Thys kyns foūded the monasteryes of Batell and Barmūdesey ca. cc.xix fo c.xlii wyllyam surnamed the Rede and sonne of wyllyam Cōquerour began hys reygne ouer Englād in the moneth of Iuly yere of our lord a M.lxxx .ix .xxxi. yere of Philippe forenamed yet king of Fraūce reygned yeres .xii. ca. cc.xxiii fo c.xlvii Henry surnamed Beawclerke and thyrd son̄ of wyllyam Conqueroure begā hys reygne ouer Englād in the yere of our lord M.C. one and in the .xliii. yere of the foresayd Phylyp yet kyng of Fraūce reygned yeres xxxv ca. cc.xxvi fo c.l. Lowys surnamed the greate and sonn̄ of y e fyrst Philippe was enoynted king of Fraūce in y e yere our lord M.C. .vii and y e .vi. yere of the first Henry than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xxix. capi cc.xxx folio c.lv. Stephan erle of Boloyng sonn̄ vnto the erle of Blesens of the wyues syster of Hēry the fyrst begā hys reygne ouer Englāde in the yere of grace M.C. .xxxvi and the last yere of Lowys the great reygned yeres xix ca. cc.xxxii fo c.lvii Lowys the .viii. of y e name and son̄ of Lowys the great begā his reygne ouer Fraunce in the yere of our lord M.C.xxxvi the fyrste yere of Stephan than kyng of England reygned yeres .xliii. ca. cc.xxxiiii folio c.lx. Henry the seconde of that name sonne of Geffrey Plantaginet and of molde the emperesse begā hys reygn in Englande in the yere of our lorde M.C. and .lv and the .xix. yere of Lowys the .viii. than kyng of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xxxv. Saynt Edwarde the confessour was trāslated in the .ix. yere of thys kyng And about the .xvi. yere of hys reygne saīt Thomas of Caunterbury was martyred cap. cc.xxxvi folio c.lxii Philippe the second of that name surnamed a Deu don̄e sonne of the viii Lowys beganne hys reygne in Fraunce in the yere our lord a thousande C. and .lxxix and .xxiiii. yere of Henry the seconde than kyng of Englande and reygned yeres .xliii. ca. cc.xli fo c.lxviii Thus endeth the table of the fyrste volume FOR
THAT IN the accomptynge of the yeres of the worlde from the creacyon of Adam vnto the incarnacyon of Criste ben many sondery opynyons as the Hebrewes whych accompt for the sayde terme .iii. thousande .ix. hundred .lxiii. yeres the seuenty interpretours reken .v. M.C.lxxx and .xix. yeres Some there be that reken v. M.lxxx and .xix. yeres and some v. thousande CC. .xxviii. yeres In the thyrde boke fyrste chapyter of Polycronycon ben also shewed dyuers opinyons wherof the gretest nomber and most certayne is v. thousande and CC. yeres And in other places also some rekeÌ„ mo and some haue lesse by reason wherof the tymes ben diuersly sette and accompted as the fyrst fouÌ„dacyon of Rome the subuersyon of the famouse cytye of Troye the fyrst buyldynge of the cytye of London dyuerse other old thinges But for I se y t the accoÌ„pt of y e seuenty interpÌ„tours is of holy Beda and many other holy wryters allowed and folowyd therfore I enteÌ„dynge to shew in this rude worke folowyng what yere of y e world Brute entred fyrste thys ile then called Albyon and now England purpose to kepe the sayde accompte wherof the partyculers ensewe that is to wyt fyrste from Adam to Noeflowyd .xxii hundred and xlii yeres From Noe to Abraham flowed .ix hundred and .xlii. yeres From AbrahaÌ„ to Dauid flowyd ix hundred and xl yeres From Dauid to the captyuyte of the Iewys passed .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and v. yeres And from the captyuyte to the comynge of Christe .v. hundred .lxxx. tenne yeres The whyche in all make .v. thousande a hundred lxxx and xix yeres AFter which accoÌ„pt moste accordynge to the purpose of thys worke all be yt that dyuerse opynyons thereof ben left in writyng and of dyuerse autours the famous cytye of Troye was subuerted of y e Grekes as wytnessyth holy Eusebius and other in the yere of y e world .iiii. M. and .xxiii. Also folowyng the sayd accompt as wytnessyth the forsayde Euseby dyuerse other the cyte of Rome was begon to be buylded in the xi yere of Ezechias then kynge of Iuda the whyche yere maketh after the sayde auctours the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande foure hundred lxx And y e sayd auctours afferme that the sayd cytye of Rome was edifyed after the subuersion of Troye iiii huÌ„dred and xlvii yeres By whych reason it must folowe that is was buylded in the yere of the world as ys aboue sayde Peter pictauiensis and other testifye that Brute entred fyrste the ile of Albyon now called Englande in the .xviii. yere of the preste iudge of Israel named Hely And as after myth dyuers auctours the sayde Hely beganne to rule the Israelites the yere of the thyrde age that is from Abraham to Dauid .viii. huÌ„dred lxi whych maketh the yeres of y e worlde foure thousande and .xlv. wherunto yf there be ioyned the aboue sayd â—xviii yeres then muste yt folow that Brute shuld entre this lande in the yere of the worlde foure thousand .lxiii. To this agreeth y e auctour of Polycronicon whych sayth that Brute entred Albion .xl. yeres after the subuersyon of Troye whych xl yeres ioyned to the former sayeng of Eusebius maketh y e sayd nomber of .iiii. thousande and .lxiii. yeres Also a wryter of hystoryes called Iacobus Philippus affermeth that Troye was taken by the Grekes in the thyrde yere y t Abdon or Labdon iudged the Israelytes whych began his rule ouer the sayde Israelytes after the accorde of moste wryters in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande and .xx. wherunto yf there be ioyned thre yeres for y e third yere of his rule in whyche yere Troye as before ys sayde was taken and .xl. yeres that passed or Brute percyd Albyon yt muste folowe y e Brute entred fyrst thys I le of Albyon as before is sayd in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand and .lxiii. Then by these foresayd reasons Brute toke possession of this I le of Albyon in the yere of the worlde as before is sayde before the buyldyng of the cytye of Rome as by the foresayd reasons may be also prouyd .iiii. hundred and .vii. yeres and before the incarnacyon of our blessyd sauyour folowynge the same accompte a thousande an hundred .xxx. and vi yeres ¶ Thus endeth thaccomptynge of the yeres of the worlde from the creacyon of Adam vnto the incarnacyon of Chryste THE PROLOGE WHan I aduertyse in my remembraunce The manyfolde storyes in order duely sette Of kyngâ— princes y e whilom had gouernauÌ„ce Of Rome and Italye and other further fette As of Iewes Grekes the whyche haue no let But that men may se in order seryously How longe they reygned how successyuely Of Fraunce and other I myght lykewyse reporte To theyr great honour as of them doth appere But to Englande yf I shall resorte Ryght mysty storyes doutfull and vnclere Of names of tymes and of the duraunt yere That kynges or prynces ruled that famouse yle Almoste vncertayne how I shuld guyde my style And for of cunnynge I am full destytute To brynge to frame so great a mystery I nyll presume wythout other refute To ioyne suche a worke or yt to rectyfye To me yt semyth so farre sette awrye In tyme of yeres to other dyscordaunt That to my dull wytte yt is not atteynaunt To brynge in order a thynge of suche weyght And cause yt to agre wyth other olde storyes But yt to remytte to them that ben sleyght And sharpe in lecture and haue kepte theyr studyes And sought the bokes of many olde hystoryes And haue in cronycles full experyence To frame suche a worke by theyr great prudence And I lyke y e preÌ„tyse that hewyth the rough stone And bryngeth yt to square wyth hard strokes many That the mayster after may it ouergone And prynte therin his fygures and his storye Any so to worke yt after his proporcynary That yt may appere to all that shall yt se A thynge ryght perfyte and well in eche degre So haue I now sette out this rude warke As rough as the stone not coÌ„men to the square That the lerned and the studyed clerke May yt ouer polyshe and clene do yt pare Flowryshe yt wyth eloquence wherof yt is bare And frame yt in order that yet is out of ioynt That it with olde authours may gree in euery poynt Besechynge hym that wyll so take the payne Or any other that lyste on this to loke where any errour in this by hym is sayne It to correcte and mende this rude boke For by hym that neuer yet any order toke Or gre of scole or sought for great cunnynge This worke is gaderyd wyth small vnderstandynge Not for any pompe nor yet for great mede This worke haue I taken on hande to compyle But onely bycause that I wolde sprede The famouse honour of this fertyle yle That hath contynued by many a longe whyle In excellent honour wyth many a royall guyde Of whom
sayd Policronica sayth And for this Lewys was mylde he was often troubled of hys own men and of other tyll he delte wyth them more sharpely and wysely and ruled the people more straytly It is there also shewyd that when this Lewys had promotyd a yonge man named Frederyke to the see of Utryke and to hym hadde gyuen sadde and good exhortacyon that he shuld folowe the stablenes of hys antecessours and that he shulde purpose the sothe and trouth wythoute excepcyon of persones and punyshe mysdoers as well the ryche as the poore the sayde byshoppe shulde answere to hym and saye I beseche thy magestye syr emperour to take in pacyence that I maye dysclose to the that thynge that hath long walowed turned in my mynde Say thy plesure sayd the emperour I praye thy syr emperour shewe me thy mynde whyther is more accordynge to attame thys fyshe here presente fyrste at the hedde or at the tayle The emperour answered shortely and sayd at the hedde the fyshe shall be fyrste attamyd So yt is lorde emperoure sayd the byshoppe that crysten fayth maye cause the to cease of thyne erroure that thy subiectes be not boldyd to folowe thy mysdoynge wherfore fyrste forsake thou thy vnlawefull wedloke that thou haste made wyth Indyth thy nere kynnes woman By meane of those wordes the kyng was reconcylyd and lefte the company of his wyfe tyll he hadde purchasyd a lycence of the pope And the emperour forgaue the sayde byshop all trespassys but the woman hyred two knyghtes that slewe hym in his vestymentes when he hadde ended hys masse After thys the empresse was falsely accused of wronge cryme and made a menchon But the same yere the emperoure delyueryd her from that habyte when he hadde suffycyently prouyd the sayde cryme to be false Then to retorne where I lefte whā this Lewys had longe lyen in thys agonyous sykenes and knewe well that he amendyd nothynge but feblyd more and more he commaundyd his iewellys to be broughte before hym wherof by hys owne hand he haue a parte vnto the chyrche of Rome and to Lotharius his sonne there presente he gaue his crowne his sworde commaundynge hym straytly vppon his blessynge that he shuld haue in honour hys moder Indith that to Charlis his brother he shulde owe true loue amyte that he shuld hym his lādes deffende to the vttermoste of his power Then the lordes spirituall and temporall and specyally the archebysshoppe of Meaws made a lamentable requeste to the emperoure for his sonne Lewys that he wolde accepte hym to his grace and mercye and to forgyue hym hys insolente and wanton wylde dedys wherof when the emperour harde he fell in suche wepynge that he myghte not speke of a good whyle after And when he hadde refrayned hym therof he remembryd to y e lordes the many and great benefytes y t he had done to hym and the innaturall vnkyndnes that the sayd Lewys had agayn shewyd vnto hym how often tymes he had perdoned his vnkynd sonnes trespasse And finally all this not wythstandyng he was at y e oure in perfyte charite wyth hym and forgaue hym as he trusted to be forgyuen prayenge the lordes there present and specyally chargynge y e sayd byshop that he wold shew vnto hys sayd son that great daunger that he was in agaynst god for the dyspleasures done to him and specially that he was a cause of the abrygement or shortynge of hys dayes Then to brynge this story to effect wherof yf I shuld declare the special tyes therof wolde aske a longe tyme for ye shall vnderstand that these .ii. storyes of the great Charlis and of this Lewys occupye in Frenche of leuys of great scantelyn ouer .lxiiii wherfore I conclude y t he dyed lyke a good crysten prynce when he had ben emperour of Rome and kynge of Fraunce by the terme of .xxvi. yeres and was buryed wyth great solemnyte at Meaws or at Mettis by hys mother Hyldegarde as sayth mayster Robert Gaguyne in the yere of hys age .lxiiii leuynge after hym the foresayde thre sonnes Lothayre Lewys and Charlys the Ballyd Anglia THE CLXII CHAPITER ADeulpus or Ethelwolphus the son of Egbertus beganne hys reygne ouer the westesaxons or Anglys in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon .viii. hundred and .xxxii and the xvii yere of Lewys the mylde then kynge of Fraunce Thys in his youth was wyllynge to be a preste and was enteryd the order of subdeacon But there after by dyspensacyon of Pascall the fyrst of that name pope he was maryed to Osburga a woman of lowe byrthe By whome he hadde foure sonnes that is to meane Ethelwalde Ethelbert Etheldrede and Alurede the whyche after theyr father reygned as kynges of Englād that one after that other as after shall appere This Adeulphus after he hadde a certayne tyme ben kyng he went to Rome and toke wyth hym his yongest sonne Alurede or Alphrede and taryed there by the space of a yere In the whyche season he repayred the Saxon scole the whyche before tyme was there founden by Offa kynge of Mercia as Guydo sayeth and other but more veryly of Iue kynge of westsaxons as sayth the authoure of the Floure of historyes And for that he graunted of euery house of his kyngdome a peny as in his storye is before shewyd But thys scole was sore decayed and the house therof lately brent the whyche thys Adeulphus newely repayred and sette yt in better order then yt before was vsyd Thys kynge also to refourme the greuouse correccyons that he sawe there executyd to Englyshe men for spyrytuall offensys as in werynge of irons and guyues he graunted of euery fyre house of hys lande .i. d as Iue foresayde hadde done By the whyche sayenge yt shulde seme that by these two kynges shuld be grauntyd vnto Rome .ii. d. of euery fyre house thorough theyr lande But that maye not be so vnderstande for thys Rome scot ys gaderyd of euery house a peny wythout more wherfore yt muste folowe that yt is mysse taken of wryters that allege this dede to that one kynge for that other How be yt yt maye stande by reason that Iue made the fyrste graunte and this kynge after confermyd the same But the authoure of Cronica cronycarum sayth that thys Adeulphus graunted to saynte Peter these sayde Peter pens and spekyth no word of Iue nor of none other It is also shewyd of this kynge by Policronica that he shulde for the acquytynge of the chyrches of Englād of all maner of kynges trybute payed yerely to Rome thre hundred markes That ys to meane to saynte Peters chyrche a hundred markes to the lyghte of saynt Paule a hundred marke and to the popys treasorye a hundred marke And ouer all thys of hys pure deuocyon he offred to god to saynte Peter the .x. parte of hys moueable goodes And also one cronycler sayth that thys kynge founded fyrste the vnyuersytye of Oxynforde whyche was lykely to be
entred the boundes of Italy wherof herynge y e pope and the emperour than as before is sayd beynge at Papye busyed in a great counceyle dissoluyd the same And the pope incontyneÌ„tly toke leue of the emperour departyd agayne to Rome And Charlys wyth a great power that he had gaderyd as well of Italyans as of hys owne people made towarde hys neuewe wherof herynge the sayde Charlone turned agayne by the waye that he had comen tyll he came to hys owne countrey as sayth myne authour also y e French boke But more verely Charlone kepyng togyther hys hoste and hauynge fauour of dyuers lordes of Italye the emperoure Charlys remouyd to y e cytye of Mantue where he was grudged wyth a feuer For remedy wherof he toke a pocyon of a physycyon Iewe named Sedechias whyche was intoxicat by meane of whych venemous pocyon he dyed shortly after whan he hadde reygned as kynge emperoure after moste accorde of writers by y e space of .xxxvii. yeres wherof he reygned as emperoure .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne named Lewys whyche as before is shewed was ruler of the couÌ„trey of Austracy or Lorayne whan thys Charlys was dede hys frendes entendynge to haue caryed the corps into Fraunce causyd it to be seryd and enoynted wyth ryche and precyous bawmes and other oyntmentes and aromatykes But all myghte not stoppe the intolerable ayre of hys body so that they were fayne to bury hym at Uercyle wythin the monastery of saynt Euseby where he laye ouer .vii. yeres after and then taken vp and conueyed to saynt Denys in FrauÌ„ce and there honorably buryed THE CLXVI CHAPITER IN the tyme of thys Charlys the Ballyd as wytnessen many wryters began the erledome of Flaunders the whyche euer before these dayes the ruler therof was called the forester of the kynge of FrauÌ„ce whyche erledome had hys begynnynge by thys meane ye haue harde before in the story of Adeulphus kynge of westsaxons how in hys retornynge from Rome he maryed the doughter of Charlys y e Ballyd named Indith The which Indyth after the deth of her sayde husbonde retornyd by Flaunders towarde Fraunce thynkynge to passe wythout daunger bycause the sayde countrey was vnder the obedyence or her father But at those dayes was ruler or forester in that partyes a noble yonge amerous man callyd Bawdewyne the whyche herynge of the great beautye of thys Indith gaue attendaunce vppon her And receyued her in hys best maner makyng to her all the chere that to hym was possyble and fynally cast to hyr suche loue that whan she supposed to departe and to haue gone into Fraunce he delayed the mater in suche curteys and wyse maner that he wan such fauour of her that she made no greate haste to departe frome hym all be it that moste authours agre that he kepte hyr perforce whan Charlys hadde wyttynge that Bawdewyne thus helde hys doughter Indith he sent to hym straytly chargynge hym to sende home hys doughter but that holpe not the mater ThaÌ„ he purchasyd agayn hym the censures of holy chyrch and accursed the sayd Bawdewyne But whan the kynge conceyued that the yonge man hadde suche loue to Indyth that he sette not by that punysshement and also was certeynly enformed that hyr harte was gyuen vnto hym he in processe by y e meane of some bysshoppes and frendes of the sayd Bawdewine agreed that he shulde take hyr to wyfe and in the name of hyr dowar he shulde holde and enioye the sayd countre of FlauÌ„ders And for he wolde haue hys doughter to be the more honoured he creatyd the sayde Bawdewyne an erle and commaunded hym to be called after that daye erle of FlauÌ„ders It is also shewyd in the Frenche cronycle and of other wryters that thre dayes before hys deth hys spiryte shulde be rauysshed from hys body and vnto places of payne and turment where thys Charlys by the ledynge of an aungell shulde se hylles and mountaynes brenne pyttes full of sulphyr pytche and hote boylynge lede In whyche paynes the sayde Charlys shulde se many of hys progenytours and bysshoppes that counceyled prynces to debate or stryfe or gaue counceyle to them to rayse of theyr subiectys vnlefull taskys or imposycyons wyth many other thynges whyche I passe ouer for length of the mater Anglia THE CLXVII CHAPITER EThelwaldus or Ethelwoldus y e eldeste sonne of Adeulphus began hys reygne ouer the westesaxons or ouer y e more partye of Englande in the yere of our lorde viii hundred and .lv and the .x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd than kynge of Fraunce The whyche became so vnhappy that he maryed y e woman whyche hys father hadde somtyme kepte or holden for hys concubyne as wytnessyth y e authour of y e Floure of hystoryes But Polycronycon sayth that he wedded his stepmoder whyche dysaccordyth wyth the sayenge of other wryters which testifye his stepmoder to be maryed to Bawdewyn erle of FlauÌ„ders as in y e story of Charlys last before is shewyd Thys Ethelwolde though it be not expressyd by what hap he dyed whan he hadde reygned one yere as sayth Polycronyca But another cronycle beryth wytnesse that he was slayne as a martyr of Hungar and Hubba prynces of Danys About thys tyme the holy kynge saynt Edmund coÌ„tynued his reygne ouer the Eest Anglis or Norfolke THE CLXVIII CHAPITER EThelbertus the seconde sonne of Adeulphê° began his reygn ouer the more partye of Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred lvi the .xi. yere of Charlis y e Ballid then kynge of Fraunce In whose tyme the Danys wyth more strengthes entred y e west part of this land and robbed and spoyled the couÌ„trey before theym tyll they came to wynchester toke the cytye by strength and dyd therin what they wold But the kynge made suche prouysyon that by hym his dukes they were forcyd to forsake the cytye And as they yode toward theyr shippes they were fought wyth and a great parte of theym slayne and taken Of this kynge is nothynge ellys lefte in memory more then before is shewyd but that he dyed when had reygned after moste wryters .vi. yeres and was buryed at Shyrborne leuynge after hym none yssu of hys body wherfore the rule of the lande fell to his brother Etheldrede THE CLXIX CHAPITER ETheldredus the thyrde sonne of Adeulphus beganne hys reygne ouer the west Anglis and the more parte Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxiii the xviii yere of Charlis y e Ballyd then kynge of Fraunce In the begynnyng of this kynges reygne the Danes landed in eest England or Norff. and Suff. But they were compellyd to forsake that countrey and so toke agayne shyppynge and saylyd northwarde and landed in Northumberlande where they were mette wyth of the kynges then there reynynge callyd Osbryghte and Ella whyche gaue to theym a stronge fyghte But that not wythstandynge the Danys wyth helpe of suche as enhabyted y e countrey wan the
cytye of yorke and helde yt a certayne of tyme. Then the people of Northumberland varyed with in them self had more leuer ayde the Danys then to reygne vnder the kyng of westsaxōs For here is to be notyd that all such kynges as reygned there after Egbert whyche as before is sayde subdued that prouynce and other reygned as trybutaryes to the kynge of of westsaxons or Anglys wherfore Etheldredus herynge of the auauntage that the Danys then had assembled his people and sped hym thytherwarde and sente vnto the foresayd two kynges commaundynge them also to prepare theyr peple agayne hys cōmynge But howe yt was or the kynge came wyth hys hoste the Danys so prouokyd the Northumbres to batayll that they met in playne feld foughte a longe batayll But finally the Danys wan the pryce and slew both the foresayd kynges wyth a great multytude of theyr people After whych vyctory they subdued myche of the sayde countrey and destroyed y e town of Aklynt or Aclynd the whyche as testyfyeth Beda was somtime one of the strongest townes of the Northe when Etheldrede hadde preparyd all thynge for the warre and was purposyd towarde the North for cōsyderacyon aforesayde worde was brought vnto the sayde kynge Etheldrede of the dyscomfyture of the Northumbres and also of dyuerse of the sayde Danys wyth other that were comen to Mercia and hadde wonne the towne of Snotyngham or Notyngham whyche tydynges lettyd hym of his forth spedde in that iourney But thys sayenge is dysagreable vnto Policronicon For he sayth that the Northumbres were yet of theyr kynge Osbrutus or Osritus after some authours and chase vnto thē a tyraunt named Ella by meane wherof great dissensyon grew amōg them to the great hurte of the countrey But when the Danys hadde passed the countre and wonne the cytye of yorke that then was febly wallyd then by constraynte and of fere for the defence of theyr coūtrey they were fayne to agree and to gather strengthe on all sydes so that bothe the foresayde kynges went agayne the foresayd Danis and both were slayn After whych scomfyture the people as desolate some fledde the countrey and some made peace wyth the Danys and lyued vnder theyr tuycyon And so the Danys kepte the possessyon of that coūtrey in suche wyse that no Angle hadde rule therof tyll the time of Adelstone or Ethelstone or after some wryters tyl the tyme of Edredus so that they helde the possessyon therof ouer the terme of .lx. yeres Then the Danys beynge thus possessyd of the Northe countrey manned the same fortyfyed the stronge holdes therof And the other of them came downe into Mercia or myddell Englande and wanne a parte therof wyth the forsayde towne of Nothyngam and dwellyd there y e more parte of the yere folowynge wherfore kynge Etheldrede wyth ayde of Burdredus then kynge of Mercia layde seage vnto the towne The whyche when the Danys perceyued shulde be wonne they refusyd the towne and toke the towre or castell and defendyd yt in so stronge maner that they helde yt tyll a peas or apoyntement was concludyd betwene the two kynges and theym whyche was that they shulde go free where they wolde and carye wyth theym theyr horse and harnesse wythout any pyllage And whē this peace was thus made eyther of the kinges departed to theyr owne and the Danys retourned vnto yorke dwelled there the yere folowynge And the yere folowynge that sayde yere a parte of the sayde Danys takynge shyppynge in the Northe entendynge to sayle towarde eest Englande mette in the see wyth a flote of Danys wherof the captaynes or ledars were named Hynguoar Hubba The whyche by exhortacyon of the other commynge oute of the North made all one course and lastly landed in eest Englande or Norffolk and in processe of time came vnto Therforde Therof herynge Edmundus then kyng of that prouynce assembled an hoste that gaue vnto them batayll But Edmūde and his hoste was forsed to forsake y e feld the kyng with a few persones fledde vnto the castel of Framilynghā or Framyngeham whome the Danys pursued But he in short whyle after yelded hym selfe vnto the persecucyon of the Danys And for this blessyd man Edmunde wolde not renye or deny Cryste and hys lawys they therfore moste cruelly bonde him vnto a tree and causyd hym to be shot to deth and lastely causyd his hedde to be smytten from the body caste amonge the thycke of the bushes But when his frendes came after to burye this holy treasoure and lacked the hed and made for yt busy serche the hedde beyng in the clawys of a wylde wolfe spake sayde thre tymes dystynctely here here here By reason of whyche speche they came vnto y e place where the hedde in the sayde bestys kepyng laye whyche sayde wolfe contrarye to his kynde anon as he sawe the people fledde from the hedde and suffred theym to take yt vp and folowyd theym after a certayn of tyme as he hadde ben rame Then they wyth great solempnyte caryed the body and hed vnto Eglydon or Eglysdon now callyd saynte Edmundes bury and there buryed hym aboute the yere of our lorde as wytnessen Policronica Guydo and other viii hūdred .lxix as before it is shewyd in y e chapyter of this worke foure score .xiv for whom dayly god shewyd there many miracles THE CLXX CHAPITER WHan this blessyd Edmūde was thus martyred for the loue that he bare towarde his mayster Criste and his lawes his brother named Edwoldus settynge a parte the lykynge and pleasure of the worlde all be yt that to hym belongyd the ryght of that kyngdome toke vpon hym the habyte of an heremyte and lyued onely by brede and water at the abbay of Cern̄ in the countye of Dorset by the clere welle that saynt Austyne by his prayers made to sprynge when he conuertyd fyrst the Saxons of that prouynce to y e fayth of Cryste Of this said abbay of Cerū Policronica sayth y t it was after these dayes ryche and ryght welthy But the gouernours therof mysspent the patrymony therof in excesse glotony not amonge the seruauntes of god wherfore he sayth farther that couetyse and pryde hadde so chaūged all thyng in England in these days that all thynges that before tyme were gyuē to abbays were then more wasted in glotony and outrage of the owners then in sustenaunce and ayde of nedy men and of gestes or nedy waygoers Albe yt he sayth the fyrst doers or gyuer lose not they re rewarde For theyr wyll and entent is full euenly paysed in a balaunce before hym that is the rewarder of all good But though Treuysa y t was the translatoure of this boke of Polycronycon out of laten into our vulgare tunge reporte this to be done or thys mysorder to be vsyd in thys dayes whyche lyued in the tyme of that honorable prynce Edwarde the thyrde yf he now lyued he wold not in no gouernours of munkes
blacke or yet whyte laye no suche outrage For nowe at these dayes pryde and glotony is clerely banyshed froÌ„ theyr monasteryes and cellys and in the rome of pryde wyth hys frende dysobedyence haue they now lodgyd humylyte with his suffer obedyence And in the stede of glotonye and vncleÌ„nesse of lyuynge haue they nowe newely professyd them vnto all chastyte temperaunce abstynence auoydynge all slowth and idelnesse and exercyse theym in gostely studye and preachynge of the worde of god wyth all dylygence So that nowe the holy rulys ordynaunces made by that holy father and abbote saynt Benet which by ignorauÌ„ce haue loÌ„g tyme slepte nowe by grace of good gouernaunce are newely renyued and quyckened And here and ende lest I be accused of dyssymulacyon Then to retourn vnto the Danys from whome I haue made a longe dygressyon trouth yt is that when they hadde as before is sayde martyred the blessed man Edmunde and robbed and spoyled that countrey and they toke agayne theyr shyppes and landed agayne in Southerye and there contynued theyr iourney tyll they came to the towne of Redynge and wanne the towne wyth the castell Policronyca sayth y t the thyrd day of theyr thyther coÌ„ming Hingwar Hubba as they wente in purchasyng of prayes were slayne at a place called Engelfelde whyche prynces of Danys thus slayne the other dele of theym kepte hole to gyther in suche wyse that the weste Saxons myght take of theym none auauntage But yet wythin few dayes after the Danys were holden so shorte that they were forced to yssue out of the castell and to defende theym in playne batayll In y t whych by coÌ„forte of kyng Etheldrede and of Alurede his brother the Danys were dyscomfyted and many of theym slayne wherof the other beynge ware fled agayne to the castell and kepte theym wyth in the same a certayne of tyme. Then the kynge coÌ„maunded Etelwold then duke of Baroke or Barkshyre to attende wyth hys peple vppon that castell to se that the Danys breke not oute at large while he went in other costes of that countrey to subdue other of the sayde Danys But when the Danys knewe of the kynges departure they brake out so daynly anon of theyr hold and toke the duke vnpuruayed slewe hym and myche of hys people and caused the other to with drawe them farther from that towne or castell Then these Danys drewe them to other that were theyr lordes in that couÌ„trey and enbatelled them in such wyse that of theym was gatheryd a stronge hoste It was not long after duke Ethel wolde was slayne but the kyng was ascertayned therof The whyche renewed his heuenesse and made hym full heuy to consyder the losse of his frende and the encreace and multyplyenge of his enymyes For y e daye before reporte of these tydynges as affermeth an olde cronycle worde was brought to hym of the landyng of a Dane named Osryk whyche of Policronyca is named kyng of Denmarke The whyche in shorte tyme after with assystence of the other Danys hadde gaderyd a great hoste and were enbatellyd vppon ashe downe To his batayll Alured was forced by great nede to come before his brother the kynge that then was herynge of a masse wyth great deuocyon not knowynge of that hasty spede of his brother where y e kynge thus beynge in hys medytacyons y e hostes of Anglys and Danys strake to gyders wyth houge vyoleÌ„ce And how be yt the Danys hadde won the hyllande y e crysten men were in the valley yet by grace and vertue of y e kynges holy prayers and manhode of theym selfe they at length wanne the hyll of the Danis and slew theyr duke or kynge called Osryke or after the englyshe cronycle Oseg and fyue of theyr dukes wyth myche of theyr people and chased y e other dele vnto Redynge towne wherfore the Danys resembled theyr people and gathered a newe hoste so that wythin .xv. dayes they mette at a towne called Basynge Stoke and there gaue batayll vnto the kynge and hadde the better Then the kynge gatheryd his people the whych at that felde were chachyd dysparklyd and wyth freshe soldyours to theym accompanyed mette the Danys within two monethes after at a towne called Merton and gaue to theym a sharpe batayll so that myche people were slayn as well of the crysten as of the Danys But in the ende the Danys hadde the honour of the felde and the kynge of Anglys was wounded and fayne to sauegarde hym selfe by polycy when myght fayled After these two feldes thus won by the Danys they obteyned great cyrcuyte of grounde and destroyed man and chyld that to them were inobedyeÌ„t And chyrches and temples they tourned to vse of stables and other vyle occupacyons And to this sorowe was added an other For where the kyng hoped well to recouer his losses by ayde of his subiectes as wel of other ê‘tes of his land as of hys owne of westsaxon when he hadde sent his commyssyons into Northumberland into Mercia and éest Anglia He had of them small or lytell comforte so that the couÌ„tre of west Saxon was brought in great desolacyon For the kyng was beset wyth enymyes vpon euery syde and ouer that his knyghtes and soldyours were tyred palled wyth ouer watche and laboure whyche manyfolde aduersytyes and troubles synkynge in the kynges mynde wyth brose or hurte ensuyng of the wouÌ„de before takeÌ„ at y e batayll besyde Merton shortened his dayes so that he dyed when he had reygned in great persecucion of the Danys after most wryters .viii. yeres wythout yssue of his body By reason wherof the rule of the lande fyll vnto hys brother Alurede It is wytnessyd of some cronycles that not wythstandynge the great trouble and vexacion that this kyng Etheldrede hadde wyth the Danys he founded the house or college of chanons at Exeter and was buryed at the abbaye of wynbourne or wobourne THE CLXXI. CHAPITER ALuredus the .iiii. sonne of Adolfus brother to Etheldredus laste kynge beganne his reygne ouer the westsaxons and other prouynces of Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxxii and the .xxxi. yere of Charlis forenamed then kyng in Fraunce This Alured or after some wryters Alphred was xii yere of age or he were set to scole But for all that he spedde so well his tyme that he passed his brother and other that were long set forth before hym And by the counsayll of Neotê° or Notê° he ordeyned the fyrst grammer scole at Oxenford other free scoles and fraunchaysyd that towne wyth many great lybertyes translated many lawes Marcyan lawe and other out of Bretyshe speche vnto Saxon tunge He was also a subtyll mayster in buyldyng and deuysynge therof and excellent connyng in all huntynge Fayre he was of stature and moste beloued of his father of all his chyldren Longe tyme it wold aske to reherse all his vertue But for he was in his youth dysposed to y e syn of the fleshe and
kynges subieccyon Henry archbyshoppe of Huntyngdon that wrote myche of the cronycles of Englande in prayse of thys noble woman Elfleda made dyuers dytyes of the whyche some ben expressyd as foloweth Cesers tryuÌ„phes were not so myche to prayse As was of Elfleda that sheldes so ofte dyd rayse Agayne her enymyes this noble ven queresse Uirago and made whose vertue can I not expresse WHen Edwarde hadde reconciled these foresayde townes he then buylded a new towne for agayn the olde towne of Nothyngham on the south syde of the ryuer of Trent and made a brydge ouer the sayd ryuer betwene the sayd .ii. twones And as wytnessyth Policronica the yere folowynge in the sayde towne or cytye of Notyngham two kinges that is to saye of Scotlande and walys yeldyd them vnto kynge Edwarde The cause why nor of warre betwene theym to be contynued is not of hym expressyd How be yt dyuers bokes of writers of cronycles of Englande as of Marianê° the Scot wyllam of Malmesbury Henry of Huntyngdon other yt is shewyd that this Edwarde subdued the kynges of Scotlande and of CuÌ„brys aboute the .ix. yere of hys reygne And of the sayde authours yt is also testifyed that about the .xx. yere of the reygne of the sayde Edwarde these sayde kynges of Scottes and Cumbrys shulde chose this kynge Edwarde for theyr chefe lord and patrone whyche shuld be about this season before expressyd Then this noble prynce Edwarde after these thynges set by hym in an order he in the northe ende of Mercia by the ryuer of Merce buylded a cytye or towne and named yt Thylwall and strengthyd yt wyth knyghtes And after repayred the cytye of Maynchester that sore was defaced with warre of y e Danys After which notable dedis by y e puyssaunt prynce fynyshed wyth the maryage of hys chylder and many other whyche I omytte and passe ouer for length of tyme fynally this noble man dyed when he hadde reygned wyth great trauayle by the terme of .xxiiii. yeres at Faryngdon and from thens conueyed to wynchester and there enteryd in the monastery of saynt Swythyne leuyng after hym dyuers sonnes as before is shewed of the which Ethelstane was eldest Francia THE CLXXXI CHAPITER CHarlys surnamed the symple sonne of Lewys the .iiii. or Ryen Fayzand began hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon as wytnessyth Iacobê° Philippus and other .ix. hundred .iiii and the thyrde yere of Edwarde the elder than kynge of Englande In tyme of whose reygne the Danys whyche contynuelly ouer the terme of .l. wynters that is to saye from y e x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd somtyme kynge of Fraunce vnto y e sayd dayes had wasted and spoyled the lande not wythstandyng y e agrementes made bytwene Charlys the emperour and them as before in y e story of the .iiii. Lewys is shewed yet they wyth greate hostes aryued in the couÌ„tre of Neustria or Normandy robbed and spoyled the countre before them and slewe the people thereof wythout pytye and from cytye to cytye kepte on theyr iourney tyll they came vnto the cytye of Roan wherof the bysshop beynge in greate drede of subuersyon of the cytye and destruccyon of the crysten people wyth in the same delyuered the cytye by appoyntment that he wyth y e people myghte departe thens wythout bodely harme whyche vnto the sayde Danys was a greate strength and hurte to the lande of Fraunce Of thys hoste of Danys was ruler and leder a myscreaunt named Rollo the whyche was a man of lowe byrthe but he was of greate strength The whyche whan he had a season rested hym and hys hoste refresshed them wythin the cytye of Roan he than set forth hys waye coÌ„mauÌ„dyng hys vawnewarde to kepe theyr iourney towarde Parys And for y e more spede to be made he shypped hys Danis ryght there and one parte he sent by the ryuer of Sean the seconde by the ryuer of Lyger or Leyr and the thyrde by the water Geronde Than the Danys that passyd by the ryuer of Leyr came at length to the cyte of Nauntes and wan that cytye by strength and slewe therin moche people And the byshop of the same named Guymerte beynge at masse they slewe at the aulter And whan they had spoyled that cytye the countre there about than yode they to the cytye of Angiers brent and robbyd it most cruelly And that done they yode vnto Towres and layde syege to that cytye The which by the presens of the holy body of saynt Martyne whych at that tyme was wythin y e cytye it was a whyle preserued But soone after the munkes feryng the sworde of the Danys fled the cytye secretly and toke the body wyth them And soone after the Danes had the towne at theyr wyll and brent the abbay before the town or staÌ„dynge without the towne and spoyled and robbed the cytye townes thorough the countre of Guyan whan the Danys had thus subdued the more parte of Neustria or Normandy They wyth theyr duke Rollo by y e ryuer of SeynÌ„ drewe towarde Parys And fyrst entred the landes of Burgoyne and Auerne in effecte to Senons wherof heryng the monkes of the monastery of Flory where the body of saynte Benet than rested they toke that holy treasoure and bare it vnto Orlyaunce layde it in the chyrche of saynt Anyan tyll the persecucyon were ouer passed Of thys monastery was at that dayes lyuynge a defensour by promyse before made whose name in latyne is called Sigillosus in FreÌ„ch Sigillophes an erle whych was taken for patrone of the same abbaye To whom in the nyght folowynge that the monkes were fled as before is sayd saynt Benet appered blamed hym y t he none other wyse had defended y e place of hys Sepulture wyth whych visyon the sayd erle beynge feryd gaderyd vnto hym vpon the daye folowyng such small power as he than myghte make set vpon the Danys and draue them backe slewe of them a great nomber And y e prayes that he there wan he offered to god and saynte Benet by whose prayers he knewe well that he opteyned that vyctory In tyme y t the Danys thus persecuted the countre of Fraunce and the kynge was not of power them to resyst for so mych as Charles knew well that the bysshop of Roan named Franke was in good fauour of Rollo he therfore sent hym in ambassade to the sayd Rollo to requyre a trewe or trewse for thre monethes the whych was grauÌ„ted The which trewse ended the sayd Rollo beseged the cytye of Chartrys Duryng whiche syege the duke of Burgoyne named Richarde wyth hys retynue assayled the Danys In tyme of which fyght Ebalde erle of Poytowe was present and draue backe y e Danys wherwyth the bysshop of the cytye beynge encoraged toke wyth hym y e smocke of our lady whyche at those dayes was kepte there wyth greate reuerence and wyth the cytesyns other issued out of
accepted the foresayde wyllyam to theyr lorde and souerayne Of thys wyllyams procreacyon yt is wytnessed of Uyncent hystory all and other that his father passynge by the cytye or towne of Faloys in Normandy he sawe a company of maydens daunsynge by the strete Amonges the whych was one of passynge beautye called Arlet and doughter to a skynner To y e which duke Robert caste vnlefull loue in suche wyse y t he caused her to be broughte to his bed the nyght folowyng and helde her to his concubyne a certayn of tyme after begat on her this wyllyam whē his moder was wyth him cōceyued she dremed that her bowel lys were sprad ouer all Normandye and Englande And when he was borne of his moders wombe he fyll to the groūde and closed his handes wyth powder of the flore or pauement Therfore the mydwyfe made and exclamacyon and sayd this chyld shall be a kynge Then yt foloweth when thys wyllyam was thus admitted duke some of his lordes by the meane of y e kyng of Fraūce began to wythdraw them from hym In so myche y e erle Gylbert to whome duke Robert had betaken hys ponge sonne to gyde was slayne and other that were especyall frendes to the chylde There was fyghtyng and manslaughter and the countrey fowle faren with by reason of the opynyons that were amonges them selfe wherof Guy a Burgoyn was one of the chefe causers For he with his adherentes sayde alwayes that they wolde haue no bastarde to be ruler of them This Guy as saith the frēche boke was nere kynnesman vnto y e yonge duke descendyd of the doughter of the seconde Rycharde and entended to haue ben duke hym selfe For the which he ensensed y e kyng of Fraūce agayn hym in all that he myght but at length duke wyllyam toke hym and put hym to deth Thus the Frenche kynge forgettynge y e kyndnesse shewyd to hym by duke Robert hys father toke partye agayne hym to the vttermoste and ordeyned hym .ii. hostes wherof one he delyueryd to his brother Almaryk and warned hym to eutre y e countrey of Caus and he hym selfe ladde that other and entred with it the coūtrey of Eurour But wyllyam not ferynge the kynges great power beynge growen wele towarde mannes stature lyke a luste yonge knyght made towarde the kynges brother gaue to hym batayll hym ouercame and chased the Frenchemen to theyr great bylany wherof heryng the Frenche kyng wyth his people spedde hym toward wyllyam to reuenge the shame done to his men But in cōclusyon he wan there no honoure Then peace was made betwene the kyng and y e duke and the Frenche prysoners were delyueryd But this peace enduryed not long for the Frēch kyng callynge to remēbraūce the losse of hys men at Mort mere or dede see wyth other dysauauntages by hym sustayned of the sayde duke wyllyam called to hys ayde Geoffrey erle of Aungiers And whan hys hoste was assembled they entred y e prouynce of Normādy cōtynued theyr iourney tyll they came to an arme of the see where the hoste shulde passe ouer Of thys new warre duke wyllyā beynge warned in all haste assembled hys Normans and sped hym y e next waye to mete the Frenchemen In thys meane whyle the Frenche kynge had passed the water wyth certayne of hys hoste trustyng that the remenauaūt shulde haue folowed But soone after the water flowed so faste that hys people myghte not passe And in thys whyle came the duke and set vpon the kynges hoste and bet theym downe cruelly so that at length the kynge was compelled to flee and loste a great nomber of his knyghtes to consyder them y e were slayne wyth the other that were taken prysoners whan kynge Henry had well dysgested in hys mynde the wrongfull trouble that he by enuyous persons hadde put the duke vnto and remēbred the yll expedycyon that he had in that warre he recōsyled hym selfe and made meanes that the duke and he myghte be agreed and accorded The whyche by dyscrete solycytours was shortely after brought to good effecte so that they contynued as frēdes durynge theyr lyues after Than Henry abstayned hym from all warre vsed the reste of hys lyfe in peas and quyetnesse Thys Henry had two wyues and of the laste whyche was doughter to the kynge of Russy he had .iii. sonnes that is to say Phylyp y ◠whych he made kyng of Fraunce by hys lyfe Robert that was after duke of Burgoyne and Hughe that was after named Hugh le graunde and was fader to Raufe erle of Uermendoyse And in thys kynges dayes Burgoyne that had ben vnder y e Frenche kynges obeysaunce ouer a hundred and .xxx. yeres refused the Frenche kynge aparte of them torned vnto Conradus the seconde of that name than emperour So that that parte whyche stretched to Champayne belonged to Fraunce and that other parte whyche stretched toward Basaynz belonged to the Almayns And that yere that the kynge had admytted hys sonne Phylyp to the gydynge of the realme he dyed and was buryed at saynt Denys leuyng after hym the issue forenamed whan he hadde reygned after moste wryters .xxxi. yeres Anglia THE CCVIII CHAPITER HArold the sonne of Canutus of Elgma y e erlys doughter of Hampton begā his reygne ouer Englande in y e yere of our lordes incarnacyon M. xxxix and the x. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce Thys for his delyuernesse swyftenesse was surnamed Harefote In whose begynnynge stryfe was amonge the lordes for so myche as of hys byrthe shulde be doughte whyther he were the kynges son or not and specyally erle Goodwyne that dyd the vttermoste of hys power to sette hym by and put Hardykynitus his brother to that honour But Leo frycus that Canutus so mych loued and trusted wyth the ayde of the Danes wythstode so myghtely Goodwyne and hys sonnes that they fayled of theyr purpose Anone as thys Harold was crowned kynge he banysshed hys stepmoder Emma and toke from her suche goodes and iewelles as she had The whych Emma sayled than into Flaūders and there of Bawdewyne the erle was reuerently receyued there abode durynge the lyfe of thys Harolde The whyche contynued hys lyfe to lytell fruyte or profyte of the land nor yet of the subiectes so that of hym other for y e vyce that clerkes lyste nat to put in memory other for the rudenesse whyche is worthy no memory nothynge of hym is put in remembraunce but that he dyed at London or after some at Oxenford was buryed at westmynster when he had reygned as moste wryters agreen .iii. yeres and odde monethes leuynge after hym none heyre wherfore hys brother kyng of Denmarke was next kynge after hym THE CCIX. CHAPITER HArdikynytus the sonne of Canutus of Emma was made kyng of England in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon M.xli and the xii yere of Henry than kyng of Fraūce Thys of some wryters is named Hardykynytus and Hardyknough
and was anone after the deth of hys brother sent for into Denmarke and receyued ioyously and crowned at Londō of Ethelnotus than archybysshop of Caunterbury But this was of suche cruelty that he sent Alfrycus archbysshoppe of yorke and erle Goodwyne vnto westmynster commaundynge them for the iniury by hys brother Harolde before done vnto his moder Emma that they shuld drawe the corps out of y e place where it was buryed and to be throwen into the ryuer of Thamys which was done accordynge to hys wyll whych corps after as testyfyeth Guydo and other was founden by a fyssher and buryed vnreuerently within the chyrcheyarde of saynt Clement standyng wythout the Temple barre of London And as Polycronycon sayth for a more curelty he caused fyrst the hed of hys sayd brother to be smyten from the body and than throwen in to the sayd ryuer Lette the herers to thys gyue credence as them lyke for to me it semeth though the kyng had ben of suche cruelty that the bysshop forenamed wolde not haue ben the executour of so fowle a dede Thys kyng also leuyed the forenamed trybute named Dane gelt spent it to the lytell comforte of the realme but gaue vnto shypmen and maryners and other lewde persons greate and vnsyttynge fees and wages and was of suche prodegalyte that his bourdes and tabelles of his courte were spred .iiii. tymes in the daye and the people serued of great excesse both of mete also of drynke wyth leuyeng of the foresayd try bute the comons greatly grudged so that in worceter two of hys seruauntes whyche were assygned to gader that money were there slayne For the whyche dede the kynge was so sore dyspleased y t he brent a great parte of that towne Thys Hardykynutus after some authours maryed hys syster named Gunylda vnto the thyrde Henry emperour The whych was of passyng beaute and was the doughter also of Emma laste wyfe of Canutus But in processe of tyme thys Gunylda was falsely accused of spowsebrech for tryall wherof she was put to her champyon wherfore she beynge in greate agony lastely trustyng to god and knowyng her selfe without gylte of that offence putte a chyld that she wyth her had brought out of Englande in stede of the champyon The whyche fought wyth a man of geauntes stature and fynally hym slew and broughte vnto confusyon when Gunylda by dyuyne power hadde thus clered her selfe she vtterly refused the emperours company and ended her lyfe in the seruyce of hym the onely god that so hadde defended her ryght But yt shulde appere by Polycronycon and also by Antoninus that thys mayden was maryed to y e sayde Henry by the lyfe of her father Canutus and also durynge the lyfe of the sayde Henryes father named Conradus the second as before is touched in the storye of the sayde Canutus and not by thys Hardykinytus her brother It is rad that the kynge betoke all the rule of the lande vnto hys moder and erle Goodwyn the whyche had maryed as wytnessyth the englyshe cronycle the doughter of Canutus gotten vppon hys fyrste wyfe Elgina By whome many thynges were mysse orderyd and specyally by the subtylyte of this erle Goodwyn This erle had many sonnes as wytnesseth Polycrony con in the .xxv. chapyter of hys .vi. boke By his fyrste wyfe that was kynge Canutus syster not hys doughter as is aboue sayde he hadde one sonne The whyche by vndyscrete strykynge of an horse was throwen into the Thamys and drowned And the mother was lastely smyttē wyth lyghtenyng and so dyed Of whome yt is there remembred that she was so vngracyous and of so vyle condycyon that she set yonge womē to horedome for to gader by that vnlefull meane ryches After the whyche wyfe so dyed he maryed the seconde of whome he receyued .vi. sonnes That is to wyt Swanus Harolde Tostius wylnotus Sirthe or Surthe and Leoffricus and a doughter named Goditha whych after was maryed to Edwarde the confessour The two sonnes of Egelredus Alphredus and Edwarde whych as ye before haue hard were sent into Normādy by Emma theyr mother came in y e tyme of the reygne of thys kyng into Englande for to vysyte and se theyr mother brought wyth them a great nomber of Normans Then thys Goodwyne ymagyned in hys mynde howe he myght preferre hys doughter Godyth to one of these bretherne and thoughte in his mynde y t the eldest wold dysdayne that maryage And for he thought to ioyne her vnto the yonger and to make hym kynge and her quene he compassed the deth of y e elder And by this mean Goodwyn warned the lordes of Englande and sayde yt was a great ieoperdye for the lande to suffer so many straungers to entre the land without lycence wherfore yt were necessary that they were punyshed to the example of other By whych meanes he gat authoryte to order that mater as to hym semed beste or of his owne power because he was of moste myght nexte the kynge wherfore he yode and mette wyth the sayde Normans and slewe of theym the moste nomber For vppon Guylde downe he slewe alway .ix. saued the .x. And yet for he thoughte to many by that meane lefte a lyue he eft agayne tythed agayne the sayd tythe and slew euery tenth knyght of them and that by cruell deth as wyndynge theyr guttes out of theyr bodyes as sayth Polycronycon and amonge other put out the eyen of the elder brother Alphredus sent hym to Ely where he dyed in short tyme after all be it y e englyshe boke sayth y t he was slayne by the forenamed tormente And Edwarde was conueyed and by some other waye broughte to hys mother But she ferynge the treason of Good wyne sente hym soone ouer the see agayne Howe be yt the ynglyshe cronycle telleth all otherwyse when Goodwyne was after accused for thys cruell dede he sware depely y t he was forced of the kynge so for to do But in one cronicle I fynde that thys dede was executed by Goodwyne in the tyme of Harolde Harefote beynge kynge Then yt foloweth in the story this kynge Hardykynytus beynge at a feste at Lambehyth besyde London mery and iocande whyle he stode drynkynge he fyll downe sodaynly and dyed or waxed dumbe and lay tyll the .viii. daye after the whyche was the .viii. daye of the moneth of Iune and then dyed when he hadde reygned after moste wryters two yeres leuynge after hym none yssue of his bodye lawfull and was buryed by his father at wynchester Thus here endeth the lyne or ofsprynge of Swanus and all other Danys so that after thys kynge the blood of Danys was clerely extyncte and putte oute from all kyngly dygnyte wythin thys realme of Englande And also the persecution of thē seased clerely after thys kynges deth The whyche had contynued to rekē from theyr fyrst landynge in tyme of Brightricus kyng of west Saxon the .ix. yere of his reygne as in y e storye
dresse So in tyme passed was vsed great sadnesse In the chyrche But nowe men lyghte be wherfore the maners muste wyth men agree SO that by such light answere they planed or excused y e sharpenesse of theyr mysse lyuynge About this tyme whyche shuld by Ranulff be about the .xii. yeare of y e reygne of Edward Marianê° the Scot that before I haue often named that wrote myche of y e dedes of y e kynges of England at the age of .xxv. yeres forsoke the world went on pylgrymage was after shorne munke at Coleyne in Almayne in the abbay of Scottes whyche Marianus after some wryters was in great fauoure with Malcolyne kyng of Scottes In the .xiii. yere of kynge Edward the Scottes rebelled agayn y e kyng wherfore Sewarde erle of Northumberlande by the kynges commaundement gadered a great hoste and entred that lande and behaued hym so manfully that in processe he subdued the Scottes chased y e kynge out of his couÌ„trey so that after kyng Edwarde gaue that kyngedome vnto MalcolynÌ„ sonne of the kynge of Cumbrys to beholden of hym hys heyres kynges as chefe lordes of Scotlande Uppon Ester mondaye aboute the sayde yere GoodwynÌ„ syttynge at the kynges bourde wyth other lordes in y e castell of wyndsore yt happed one of the kynges cuppe berers to stumble and to recouer agayne so that he shedde none of the drynke wherat GoodwynÌ„ lough and sayde nowe that one brother hath susteyned that other wherby he ment that the one fote or legge hathe sustayned y e other from fallynge wyth whyche wordes the kyng marked him sayd Ryght so my brother Alfrede shuld haue holden me ne had Goodwyn ben The erle then conceyued that the kynge suspected hym of hys brothers deth and sayde vnto the kynge in defendynge hys vntrouth syr as I perceyue well it is told to the y t I shuld be y e cause of thy brothers deth So mought I sauely swalowe this mor fel of brede y t I here hold in my haÌ„de as I am giltlesse of the dede But as soone as he had receyued the brede forthwyth he was choked Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be draweÌ„ from the table and so was conueyed to wynchester and there buryed Marianus sayth that as erle GoodwynÌ„ sat at the kynges table at wynchester he was sodaynly taken with a palsye or some other sykenes vpon the Ester mondaye and dyed y e thyrd day after And his lordshyppes were gyuen vnto Harold his eldest sonne then lyuynge Haroldes erledome was gyuen to Algarus the sonne of Leofricus whych was the erledome of Oxenford after some wryters It was not longe after y e kynge Edwarde sent vnto the .iiii. Henry than emperour of Almayne Aldredus bysshop of worceter wyth other noble men prayenge hym that he wolde sende vnto England hys cosyn Edwarde sonne of EdmuÌ„de Ironsyde for so myche as he entended to make hym hys heyre The whyche request was fulfylled so that he came into Englande soone after the whych as ye haue harde before was named Edwarde the outlawe But as witnessyth Guydo and other the yere after that he came into Englande he dyed at London and was buryed at westmynster Thys yere folowynge kynge Edwarde thorough yll counsayll exiled wythout gylte Algarus the sonne of Leofricus The whych assocyat hym wyth Gryffyne kynge or duke of walys and destroyed y e countre of Harforde dyd mych harme to y e towne and set the mynster on fyre and slew vii chanons therof Then the kyng sent Harolde agayn hym the whiche chased the walshmen into theyr own boundes and recoueryd the sayde towne by appoyntement holden by the sayde Algarus and amended all hurtes before done by the walshmeÌ„ and lastely recouncyled the sayde Algarus and his companye vnto the kynges grace THE CCXIII. CHAPITER ABoute the .xv. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed y e noble duke Sewarde ruler of Northumberland of the flux of whome Guydo reherseth dyuers notable actes whyche I passe ouer Of whom yt is radde that when he sawe well he shulde dye he caused hys armour to be put vppon hym and so armed and syttynge in a cheyre hauynge all the ryghtes of the chyrch sayde that so yt became a knyght and man of honour to dye not lyenge as an other mene man and so dyed was buryed at yorke And hys erledome was after gyuen to Tosty or Costy son of GoodwynÌ„ In the yere folowynge or .xvi. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed also y e good erle Leofricus erle of Mercia and of Chester and was buryed in the abbay of Couentre the whyche before he hadde buylded This man purchased many great pryuyleges for y e towne of Couentre and made it free of all maner of toll excepte onely of horse For the whyche to haue also free the comen fame telleth that after longe requeste made vnto hym by his wyfe named Godina he grauÌ„ted her to haue yt therof freed wyth that that she wolde ryde naked thorough the towne by meane wherof yt was freed Then Algarus hys son was erle after hym Harolde then the eldeste sonne of GoodwynÌ„ was in great authoryte ruled myche of the kynges armye The yere folowyng Algarus was accused by malyce exylded the land wherfore he fled agayne to Gryffyne duke of walis as he before had done of whom he was ioyously receyuyd and maynteyned The kynge therof beyng infourmed sent Harolde into walys to make warre vppon Gryffyne The whyche quytte hym in so knyghtely wyse that he chased the walshmen brent the sayde Gryffyns paleys at a place callyd RutlanÌ„ and his nauy and then returned into Englande about mydlent But aboute rogacyon dayes nexte folowyng the sayde Harolde with his brother Tosty was sente thyther agayne wyth a stronge army At whyche season they destroyed a great parte of walys in conclusion brought the walshmen vnto dew subieccyon and forced theÌ„ to gyue pledges for the contynuance of the same And that done pursued so sore vppon the sayde Gryffyne that in the ende his owne people for purchase of theyr owne lyues slewe the sayde Gryffyne and sent his hed vnto Harolde in the moneth of Auguste so that after the deth of thys Griffyne by the commaundement of the kynge the couÌ„trey of walys was commytted to the gydynge of the .ii. bretherne of Gryffyne the whyche had fauoured more the kynges party in tyme of the foresayd warre then theyr brother And this warre in walys thus brought to ende Harold by his polycy recouncyled agayne Algarus erle of Mercia to y e kyngê grace so that he contynued in hys fauoure durynge hys lyfe after About thys tyme a woman of Bakley in Barkshyre vsed yll craftes of sorcery The whyche as she was syttynge vpon a daye at a feste or great dyner a crowe that she had lykyngly fedde and brought vp kreked louder then he was accustomed to do â–ª when the woman harde that noyse her knyfe fyll out of her hande she waxed sodaynly pale And
the sayde two archebysshoppes was had in coÌ„munycacion For tryall wherof Bedaes story was brought forth â–ª where in it appered that from the fyrste Augu styns tyme to Bedaes last dayes vppon the season of a hundred .xxxix. yeres the archbysshop of Caunterbury had prymacy of all the bysshoppes of England thaÌ„ called Brytayn and of Irlande also and that the archbyshoppes of Caunterbury had kept couÌ„sayles nere vnto yorke and cleped therunto the bysshoppes of yorke and made some byshoppes depryued dyuers from theyr dygnytyes and to this were adioyned certayne pryuyleges that were graunted for this maner of doynge when Thomas had harde all the allegacyons he denyed all and layd for hym the pystle in the whych pope Gregorye demed that the chyrche of yorke and of London shulde be euen perys and neyther of theym subiecte to other To this was answered by Lamfrank that he was not byshop of LoÌ„don nor this questyon was not moued for the chyrche of London But Thomas sayde that Gregory had grauÌ„ted to Augustyne power to haue vnder hym all y e byshoppes of Englande and that London at y e day was the pryncypall see of all Englande All be yt y t the popes mynde was that betwene LoÌ„don and yorke shulde be no dyuersyte of honour because they were archeflamynes and that by theyr vnyte all other myghte lyâ—e vnder dewe obedyence And though Augustyne chaunged y e see from London to Caunterbury yet Gregory wolde not that Augustyne successours shuld be aboue the bysshoppes of yorke For he wolde then haue set in hys epystle these wordes folowynge I graunte to the Augustyne and to thy successours But for he wold y t no such power shuld stretche to his successours therefore he made no meÌ„cyon of his successours Lamfranke to this answered and sayd If that authoryte were graunted to Augustyne alone not to hys successours yt was a symple gyfte y t the pope gaue vnto Augustyne that was so famylyer wyth hym and namely whyle Augustine ordeyned nor sacred no byshoppe of yorke whyle he lyued For y e see was full durynge his lyfe by reason wherof he put not hys authoryte in execucyon But pryuyleges of popes confermeth this dignyte to Augustynes successours of Caunterbury and demeth that yt is skyll and good reason that all the chyrches of Englande shulde take lore and lyghte of that place For of that welle or place proceded fyrst the doctrine of Cristes fayth And where thou sayest Thomas that Gregory myght yf he had wolde haue confyrmed all thynge vndowtably wyth thys worde successours that is soth But yet the lackynge of this worde dothe no preiudyce to the chyrche of Caunterbury For when that Cryste sayde to Peter I shall gyue to the the kayes of the kingdome of heuen he myght haue also sayd yf he wold I graunt the same power to thy successours And though he sayde not so yet he ment the successours of Peter nothynge of reuerence nor yet of authoryte but the dyspensacyon of holy chyrche and offyce of the same was and is holy in theym whyche onely spryngeth by vertue of Cryste into Peter and from Peter into his successours And yf thou can dyscerne betwene false and soth loke what hath strength in all hath strength in the parte and what hath strength in the more hath also streÌ„gth in y e lesse The chyrche of Rome is as yt were all of all chyrches other chyrches ben as membres therof lyke as one man is the kynd of all synguler men and euery synguler man is the kynd of all mankynde so in some maner of wyfe the chyrch and the see of Rome is as yt were the kynde and conteyneth all in comparyson to other chyrches and yet in euery chyrch remayneth the full holenes of Crystes fayth And also the chyrche of Rome is greattest of all chirches and what hath strength in that chyrche shall haue streÌ„gth in lesse chyrches so that the power that is fyrste gyuen to euery chyrche shall sprynge into the successours of the same but yf yt be by some specyall thynge excepted out taken Therfore I coÌ„clude as Cryst sayde to Peter so he sayde to all the byshoppes of Rome and so consequeÌ„tly was sayde to Augustynes successours of Gregorye as was sayde vnto Augustyne wherfore yt muste appere that lyke as Caunterbury is subiecte to Rome so muste yorke be subiecte to Caunterbury whych sent to yorke prechours to teache and preache vnto them the ryghte fayth And where thou sayeste that Gregory wolde that Augustyne shuld haue his see at London yt may not stand wyth reason For who wolde trowe that so noble a discyple as Augustyn was wold wythstande or do agayn hys maysters wyll or agayne holy decrees And yf yt were so as thou haste alledged what is that to me that am not bishop of London as oft before I haue sayd Therfore yf this mater may thus sease wythout more stryfe so be yt ended And yf thou desyrest contynuaunce of plee I shall not fayle the but defende my ryghte and offyce gladly By these reasons other at length Thomas was ouercomen and grauÌ„ted gladly that the farther brynke of Humber shulde be the begynnyng of hys dioces And ouer y t yt was there demed that in all thynges concernynge the worshyppe of god and the fayth of holy chyrch the archbyshop of yorke shuld be subiecte to the archbyshoppe of Caunterburye So that yf the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye wolde call a couÌ„sayll in any parte of Englande the archebyshoppe of yorke shulde be therat wyth all the byshoppes of hys prouynce and be also obedieÌ„t vnto the lawfull hestes And at all seasons when the archbysshop of Caunterbury shuld be sacred the archebyshoppe of yorke with the byshoppes of y e chyrche shulde come to CauÌ„terbury and saker hym there And yf the archebyshoppe of yorke shuld be stalled or sacred theÌ„ shall he come to Caunterburye and ellys where in all Englande where the archebyshop of Caunterburye woll hym assygne and there to be sacred of hym and he shall make to hym an othe with professyon and obedyence when Lamfranke harde this iudgement gyuen thus he reioysed inwardely And for yt shulde remayne of recorde that his successours shuld not newely plede for that cause he caused yt to be regestred in moste substancyall wyse And ouer that sent a pystle for that cause to Alexander forenamed pope of all this doenge wyth the professyon of Thomas the archbyshop foresayd Of this Lamfrank is many notable thynges wryten of diuers writers And after some he is admytted for a saynte THE CCXXII CHAPITER ABoute the .x. yere of kynge wyllyams reygne Roger erle of Hereforde by whose counsayl the kynge as before ys sayde hadde serched all the abbayes of England whyche erle hadde wedded hys syster vnto Rauf erle of eest Angles that is to saye of Norf. and Suff agayne the kynges mynde he wyth the sayde Raufe made conspyracy agayne the kynge caused an other erle by theyr
pytye that he suffered hym to be at hys lybertye whyche after the opynyon of wyllyam de regibus was done more of pryde than of compassyon THE CCXXV. CHAPITER IN the .xi. yere of the reygne of thys wyllyam the rede at a towne called Fynchanster in the couÌ„trey of Barke shyre a welle caste out blode as before it hadde done water And after by the space of .xv. dayes great flames of fyre were sene in the elemeÌ„t in sundry places and tymes Thys yere also y e two erles of Shrewesbury and of Chester eyther named Hugh by the kynges commauÌ„dement entred wyth theyr knyghtes the I le of Man or Anglesaye slewe therin many welshemen and gelded many moo Amonge the whyche a preste named Kynredus was draweÌ„ out of a chyrch and serued of y e same wyse and also cut hys tunge out of hys hed and put out hys one eye But this preste was of such vertue that by myracle he was restored to helthe within .iii. dayes ensuynge In the whyche season and tyme the kynge of Northganys or Norwaye wan the iles called than Orcades and now Orkeys after came wyth hys strength into the foresayd ile of Man where at the same season were the sayde two erles Than bytwene them was mortall fyght in y e whyche Hugh erle of Shrewesbury was stryken with an arowe in y e eye and dyed wythin .viii. dayes after But as sayth Guydo the Danys were chased and the Englysshemen hadde the vyctory Kyng wylliam was mych in Normandye for so myche as Robert his brother was all thys season in the holy land of whose actes shall some deale be towched in y e story of Henry the fyrste And wyllyam had myche payne to rule the Normans for they rebelled often agayne hym In the .xii. yere of hys reygne he came out of Normandye and when he saw the hall of westmynster y t he had caused to be buylded he was therwyth dyscontented that it was so lytell wherfore as it is rehersed of some wryters he entended yf he had lyued to haue made a larger and y t to haue serued for a chaumber Robert Losaunge that somtyme had ben abbot of Ramsey and than bysshop of Thetforde by gyfte of a thousand pounde to the kyng repented hym after and bewept that vnskylfull dede and toke hys waye to Rome and dyd for it hys enioyned penaunce and after retorned into Englande and turned hys see from Thetforde to Norwyche founded there a fayre monastery of hys owne goodes not of the patrymony of crystes chyrch But therin is a dowt to consyder For he was fyrste an abbot and after a bysshop About thys tyme by the meanes of one Stephen Hardynge a munke of Sherbourne an Englyshman of y e order of Sisteaux or whyte muÌ„kes had hys begynnynge in the wyldernesse of Cystery within the prouynce of Burgoyne as wytnesseth Ranulf munke of Chester But other wryters as Jacobus Phylyppus the authour of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ Matheolus wyth other sayen that this Stephen was the second abbot of y e place y t it was fyrste fouÌ„ded by the meanes of one Robert abbot of MolyneÌ„se in the yere of grace M.xcviii whyche to folow theyr sayeng shuld be in the .ix. yere of the reygne of this kyng This order was after brought into Englande by one called walter Espeke that fouÌ„ded the fyrste abbay of that relygyon at Ryuall about y e yere of grace .xi. C.xxxi The whyche shulde be about the .xxxi. yere of the fyrste Henry than kyng of England Somwhat of theyr relygyon is towched in the .x. chapyter of the .viii. boke of Polycronycon After that kynge wyllyam as before is sayde was retourned out of Normandy many wonderfull prodygyes and tokyns were shewed in England as the swellyng or rysyng of y e water of Thamys in suche wyse that it drowned dyuers townes and dyd mych harme by out passyng his boundys in dyuers places about LoÌ„don and ellys where Also the deuyll was sene walke in mannes lykenesse wyth dyuers other thynges whyche I ouerpasse The kyng was warned of this and tolde by his famylyers y t god was not coÌ„tent with his lyuing But he set all at nought and made of it a scoffe or a iape In the .xiii. yere of his reygne and begynnynge thereof as the thyrde daye of Auguste after the sayenge of Ranulfe thys kyng wyllyam beyng at hys dysporte of huntynge wythin the newe forest by glaunsynge of an arowe shot of a knyght named walter Tyrell was wounded to the deth in the .xliiii. yere of hys age After whyche dede the sayde walter escaped and saued hym self for few there were that hym pursued And so the kynge thus wounded was layde vppon an horse lytter and so conueyed to wynchester where shortly after he dyed and was buryed Of this man myghte be made a myche lenger story yf all hys dedes shulde be towched The whych toke vpon hym great thynges and mych gretter enteÌ„ded yf he myght haue lyued The daye before he was slayne one axed of hym where he wold kepe hys Crystmasse At Poytiers sayde the kynge for the erle entendeth to go towarde Hierusalem and I woll assaye to haue hys erledome in morgage for well I knowe he must cheuyche for money to perfourme that iourney The day that wyllyaÌ„ dyed he helde in his haÌ„des the .iii. bysshopryches of CauÌ„terbury of winchester and of Salysbury and dyuers abbayes of the whyche he let some to terme Also he refrayned y â— money y â— of olde tyme was payed to Rome called Rome scotte Of this wyllyaÌ„ reportyth Henry of HuÌ„tyngdoÌ„ sayth y t though this maÌ„ were lyght of som thynges yet he was stedfast stable of his promyse so y t what he ê“mysed good or euyll shuld be ê‘formed And though he were named couetous yet it shuld seme y t he was liberall as sheweth by this narracyoÌ„ folowyng Upon a season when the abbot of a place in Englande was dede two munkes of the same place the which before hadde gatheryd money made theyr frendes to kynge willyam and offered large offers eyther of them to be promoted to that dygnyte There was also a thyrde munke the which of mekenesse of humylyte folowed the other two to the entent that vppon hym that the kynge had admytted for abbot he wolde haue gyuen attendaunce and as his chapelayn to haue wyth hym returned The kynge called before hym the .ii. munkys seuerally and eyther out profered other And as he caste hys eye asyde he espyed the thyrd the whych he demed hadde comen also for the same cause Then the kynge called hym and asked yf he wold geue any more then his bretherne had offered to be abbot But he answered to the kynge and sayde that he wolde nother offer nor yet gyue for yt one peny nor wold haue so great a charge by any meane wrongefull when the kynge had well vnderstanden thys thyrde munkes answere he sayde that he was best worthy to be
slew many of his men and gat the fauour of the walshmen by gyftes and plesauÌ„t wordes and also compelled the sayd Robert to forsake EnglaÌ„d The whyche then sayled into a corner of NormaÌ„dye kept him there secretely tyll such tyme as to hym was thyther comen willyaÌ„ erle of Cornewall which wyllyam was also erle of Nortom in Normandye when these two erles were assocyat they gaderyd to them a great strength of Normans dyd great harme wythin the prouynce wherfore the kynge sayled thyther made sharpe warre vppon them In the whych he loste many of his men But in y e ende he put froÌ„ them theyr strength and toke theym both prysoners and so helde them y e terme of theyr lyues And that done he sette that couÌ„trey in good reste and peace and after retourned into Englande After whyche returne kynge Henry made sharpe lawes agayne theues and other that vsed vnleful meanes In whyche lawes was conteyned losynge of lyfe of eyes of stones and other members of man as the gylte requyred And soone after Anselme archbysshoppe of Caunterbury assembled a great couÌ„sayll at London of the clergy of England By authoryte of the which couÌ„sayll dyuers abbotes and other were put from theyr dygnytie for that they had taken before tyme theyr abbayes by vnlefull meanes And amoÌ„ges all other decrees one was y e prestes shulde forgo theyr wyues Then strife fell betwen y e kyng Anselme for that that he wold not sacre the prestes that hadde taken inuestyture of lewde mennys handes whyche before was forboden vppon payne of cursynge But Gyralde archebyshoppe of yorke for the pleasure of the kynge sacred suche bysshoppes wherfore Anselme beynge dyscoÌ„tent departed y e land and yode to Rome to shewe thys wyth other thynges to the pope whyche at that daye by moste accorde of wryters shulde be Pascall the seconde In the .vi. of the kynge the countrey of FlauÌ„dres was sore blemyshed and hurte by meane of the see so that the Flemynges yode aboute to haue socoure of dwellynge and requyred of the kyng to haue lycence that they might inhabyt them in the eest parte of the ryuer of Twede the whych to them was graunted But after a certayn of yeres they were remoued ito westwalys where they remayned a longe whyle but after they sprad all Englande ouer In the .vii. yere of thys kynge vppon a frydaye at nyghte in the fyrste weke of clene lent was sene an vncouth starre betwene y e south and the weste the whyche nyghtely appered at one howre and coÌ„tynued so by the space of .xxv. days And fore agaynst that oute of the eest parte appered a great leuyn or beme of bryghtnes whyche stretched towarde the sayde starre And vppon shere thursdaye nexte ensuynge were sene two monys that one in the eest and that other in the weste And in thys yere Anselme by the kynges agrement returned agayne from Rome and shortely after called a conuocacyon at London In the whyche by the popes authoryte yt was newely conformed and enacted that no temporall man after that daye shuld make inuesture with crosse or wyth rynge In the .viii. yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the fourth Henry emperour of Almayne the whyche had maryed Molde the eldeste doughter of kynge Henry when she was of the age of .v. yeres prysoned pope Pascall and dyuerse of the cardynallys This Henry also warred agayne his father Henry the .iii and lastely caste hym in stronge pryson For the whyche dede as assermeth Ranulphe he wylfully when he had ruled the empyre .xx. yere resygned hys dygnyte into the handes of Calixtus y e secoÌ„de of that name then pope after came secretely into England vnto Chester vnwyttynge hys wyfe or any of hys frendes where he lyued longe after a strayte lyfe and was buryed there at laste But to this sayeng dysagreeth the wryters of the storyes of emperours For of them yt is wytnessed that this Henry the emperour after he had ruled the empyre as before is sayd .xx. wynter he dyed at a place in Almayn called Spyre and there was buryed wyth this scrypture vppon his toumbe Filius hic pater hic auus hic preauus iacet hic whyche is to meane in our vulgare tunge as foloweth The son here lyeth with also y e fader The belsyre for y e great grauÌ„fader when Henry the emperour was thus dede as after yt shal be shewed when conuenyency of tyme requyreth what became of his wife it shall there be declared In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry the archebyshoppe Anselme professed Gerarde archbyshoppe of yorke to the yoke of hys obedyence as he was before taught by the lore of Lamfranke his predecessour And the .x. daye of Auguste folowynge he sacred .v. byshoppes at one tyme as of wynchester of Salysbury of Exeter of Herforde and of Glamurgan And kynge Henry ordeyned a byshoppes see at Ely and ordeyned there Henry that hadde ben bishoppe of Bangor and besette Cambrydgeâ—shyre to the see of Ely And to the bisshoppes see of Lyncolne he gaue his owne towne of Spaldynge for he hadde mynyshed that see by the preferment of Ely In the .x. yere dyed Anselme archbyshop of Caunterbury After whose deth that see was voyde .v. yeres the goodes of the chyrch spent to the kynges vse And wheÌ„ he was prayed to helpe y e chyrch that was wythout an hedde and a pastor he vsed to answere that his fader and also his brother had accustomed to set there the beste proued men y t they might fynd And to the entente that he myght do the same he toke the more tyme laysure wyth suche mylde answeres he so put of the tyme that be fylled hys cofers wyth the great sommes of y e benefyce And who that is desyrous to knowe of the great vertue of thys byshoppe Anselme lette hym rede in the .xiiii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon there he shall fynde a parte therof About this tyme as wytnesseth the frenche cronycle a coÌ„trauersy began betwene the kyng and Lewys kyng of Fraunce son to Phylyp the fyrste This Lewys was surnamed Lewis the great other for hys bygnesse of person or ellys for greatnesse of hys dedes This Lewys sent vnto kyng Henry beynge in Normandy gaue vnto hym monycyon of homage for the duchy of Normandy also that he shulde restore vnto hym or bete down to the grouÌ„de the castell of Gysours also to recompence and restore for hurtes and harmes that his Normans hadde done in those partes But all this of kyng Henry was denyed and shortely after skyrmysshes and cocke fyghtes beganne betwene the sayde two prynces kynge Henry lyenge at the sayde castell of Gysours and Lewys at a place called mounte Calue But thys encreased in suche wyse that after eyther prynce soughte more rome places whose knyghtes sundry tymes met But of any notable batayll I fynde no remembraunce all be yt that the
in lawe wyllyam son of kynge Henry whyche hadde maryed hys doughter About the .xx. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry quene Molde or Mawde hys wyfe dyed in Normandy the whyche in her youthe was set by her father kyng of Scottes into a nunry and there ware vsed the vayle and habyte of a nunne For the whiche cause when kynge Henry was agreable to take her vnto wyfe thys mater fell in great despucyon Anselme then archebyshop of Caunterbury was sore agayne that maryage a season of tyme. But at length yt was suffycyeÌ„tly proued that she was there as a fygure a woman worynge that habyte wythoute professyon of order And this was thus ordered by her father to the ende to put by vnworthy wowers Thys of wryters was reputed for a blessyd and holy woman after the lyuynge of a worldly woman when kynge Henry had contynued in Normandy vppon the season and terme of .iii. yeres he toke shyppyng at Haterflete in Normandy and sayled happely into Englande the same day that is to meane y e .xxiiii. day of Nouember as sayth some wryters And shortly after willyaÌ„ duke of Normandy wyth Rycharde his brother Notha the countesse of Persye Rycharde erle of Chester with his wyfe the kynges nyce and the archdekyn of Herforde and other to the nomber of a hundred .lx. persones toke shyppynge at the sayde porte were all drowned a bocher onely excepte whyche mysfortune fell by the ouersyght of the maister and other which fell at a dyssencyon in the nyghte amonge them selfe by reason wherof they ranne vppon a rocke as shewed the foresayde bocher From this dauÌ„ger wyllyam duke of NormaÌ„dy was escaped and was in the shyppe bote nere vnto the lande But when he harde the lameÌ„table crye of the CouÌ„tesse Notha he commaunded the rowers to returne and saue the sayd Countesse whych done by what mysfortune I can not saye after she was receyued into the bote were it by tempeste or ouer chargynge of the bote or otherwise they were all swalowid of the see so that none of them was after fouÌ„de but ê‘te of theyr goodes Of this duke wyllyaÌ„ some desclaunderous wordes are lefte in memory both in the englyshe cronycle and also of other wryters the whyche I ouerpasse THE CCXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxi. yere of hys reygne kynge Henry made y e parke of wodestoke be syde Oxenforde with other plesures to the same And Fouques erle of Angiers returned out of the holy land and maryed the syster of her that before he had maryed vnto wyllam duke of Normandye vnto the son of Robert Curthose and gaue wyth her the erledome of Conomanna And stryfe began to kyndell betwene kynge Henry the sayd Fouques for the wytholdyng of the dowre or ioynture of hys fyrste doughter maryed wnto wyllyam the kynges sonne In the .xxiii. yere of kynge Henry dyed Raufe archbyshoppe of Caunterbury and one named wyllyaÌ„ was set in y e see after hym And the kynge in thys yere beganne the foundacyon of y e abbay of Redyng And IohnÌ„ a cardynall of Rome was sente from Calyxte the seconde of that name theÌ„ beynge pope for certayne maters coÌ„cernynge the pope In the tyme of whyche hys so beynge here the cardynall made sharpe processe agayne prestes that norysshed Crysten moyles and rebuked them by open publyshement and otherwyse so that he wan hym here but small lytle fauoure But this dyssymuled doctour toke so great feruence in the correccyon of the iudgement of prestes of Englande that he forgate the lore and couÌ„sayll of his famous pope Caton whyche in the boke of his counsayll or of wysedome thus sayth Quae cuspare soses ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum cuspa redarguit ipsum The whyche two verses maye be englyshed as foloweth Auyse y e well let reason be thy guyde when other folke thou arte aboute to blame That suche defaute in the be not espyed For yf there be then shalt thou haue the shame A mannes honoure suche thynges woll reclayme It ys full foule when that a man woll chese If that hys dede agayne hys wordes preche This couÌ„sayll was not remembred of the sayd Cardynall For in the euenynge after he had lewdely blowen his horne and sayde it was a detestable synne to aryse from the syde of a strumpet sacre the body of Cryste he was taken wyth a strumpet to his open shame and rebuke In the .xxv. yere of kynge Henry was called a counsayll at London where the spyrytualty condescended that the kynges offycers shulde punyshe prestes that cheryshed the foresayde mulys But the sayd offycers toke money and sufferyd the prestes to spurre theyr mulys at theyr pleasure whyche offyce at this daye is so clerely renouÌ„ced of al spyritual men y t neyther kyng nor bishop taketh for yt any synes nor yet correccyon necessarye to be done for the same In the .xxvii. yere of his reygne as reporteth an olde Cronycle the gray freres by procuryng of y e kyng came fyrste into Englande and had theyr fyrst house buylded at Caunterbury And aboute this tyme by moste accorde of writers dyed Henry the .iiii. emperour of that name whyche as before is touched maryed Molde the doughter of kyng Henry After whose deth the sayde empresse came vnto her father into Normandye when kyng Henry was ascertaynted of the deth of Henry the emperour for so myche as he hadde none heyre male he caused soone after the more party of hys lordes of England as well spirytuall as temporall to swere in his presence that they shuld kepe y e land of Englande to the vse of Mawde y e empresse yf he dyed wythoute yssue male and she then suruyued In the .xxviii. yere of kyng Henry Geffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Angeou maryed Molde the empresse Of the whyche two descended Henry the second that after Stephan was kyng of Englande In this yere also the kynge had dyuers monycyons and vysyons For amonge other ferefull dremys he saw a great company of clerkys with dyuerse wepons whyche manassed hym for dette that he shuld owe vnto them And when they were passed he thought y t he was manassed to deth of his own knyghtes And lastely apperyd to hym a great company of byshoppes whych thretened hym and wolde haue smytten hym wyth theyr crosses By this monicyon he toke remorce in his conscyence and dyd great dedes of charyte in Normandye where he hadde sene these visyons And after his coÌ„myng then into Englande in satysfaccyon of wronges done to the chyrche as affermeth Guydo he then founded the abbay of Redynge before spoken of And ouer that he releasyd vnto Englyshe men the Dane gelt that was by his father his brother renewed In the .xxx. yere of this kyng Henry dyed the erle of Flaundres and kynge Henry as sayth Ranulfe was by agrement of Lewys the Frenche kyng made erle as next heyr enherytour to the sayde erledome But it is not there expressed by
towne toke ê‘tye wyth the duke brake out vppon the nyght and fyred the town and brent a great parte therof In this while dyed and was drowned Eustace the sonne of kynge Stephan and was buried at Feuersham in Kent in the abbay that his father before had buylded Thybaude archbyshop of Caunterbury left not to labour conclude y e peace betwene y e kyng the duke endeuored hym selfe therin so dylygently wyth the assystence of other that in the yere folowynge the peace was coÌ„cluded vppon dyurese condycyons wherof one was that y e kyng shulde contynue as kynge durynge his lyfe and immedyatly after y e conclusion of this peace the sayd Henry shuld be proclaymed in all the chefe cytyes and townes of Englande for heyr apparant be kynge after the deth of the sayde Stephan and that the kynge shulde take hym for hys son of adopcyon and ryghtefull heyr vnto the crowne To the whyche couenauÌ„tes iustly to be holden y e kyng was fyrste sworne and after his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and so yode bothe to London where they were royally receyued And when y e kyng had fested the duke and gyuen to hym ryche gyftes he toke leue of the kynge and so returned into Normandye as affyrmeth the sayde authour the Floure of historyes Howe be yt the cronycle of England sayth that the accorde was made vpon dyuysyon of the lande betwene theym that is to meane that both shuld reygne to gyther and eyther of them to enioye halfe the lande But how that dyuysyon was made or whych parte of the lande eueryche of them shulde hold no meÌ„cion therof is made And the former accorde shuld be as abue is sayde concluded .viii. days folowynge the Epyphanye of our lorde in the towne of Oxenford And y e kyng dyed in the moneth of October folowyng when he had reygned .xviii. yeres full and odde monethes and was enterred in theforsayde abbay of Feuyrsham Of dyuers authours as Ranulfe and other yt is recorded that thys Stephan lyued in great vexacyon and trouble all the terme of hys reygne It is sayde also that thys Stephan maryed Molde or Mawde the doughter of Mary the whyche was the doughter of Henry the fyrst and countesse of Boloyne by whome he claymed the tytle to be crowned as by the yonger doughter of Henry the fyrst and Henry shorte mantell claymed by the elder But after most certenty of wryters this Stephan was sonne of Eustace erle of Boloyne and of Mary syster vnto Molde that was maryed vnto Henry the fyrste whych Molde and Mary were doughters of Margarete wife of Malcolyn kyng of Scottes whyche Margaret was syster to Edgare Ethelynge and doughter of Edwarde the outlawe that was the sonne of Edmunde Ironsyde Then the eldest syster Molde bare Molde the empresse by Henry the fyrste And Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry the fyrst hadde by her second husbande Geffrey Plantagenet Henry the seconde And so by Henry shorte mantell or Henry the seconde returneth the bloode of the Saxons to the crowne of Englande and so it dyd by Stephan but moste conuenyently by Henry the fyrst as by the dyssent of his mother By whych reason yt foloweth that the blood of willyam conquerour continued but .lxx. yeres yf it be accompted from y e fyrst yere of wyllyam Conquerour vnto the laste yere of Henry the fyrste Thys kynge Stephan at the request of Molde hys wyfe buylded in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .xl y e abbey of Coggeshale in Essex and set therin whyte muÌ„kes Also about the same tyme he founded the abbay of Feuersham in Kent where he nowe corporally resteth And the thyrde he founded in Furneys in Lancashyre and all he garnyshed wyth munkys of Cysteaux order dyed as before is sayde wythout yssue of his body Francia THE CCXXXIIII CHAPITER LEwys the .viii. of that name son of Lewys y e great began his reygn ouer the Frenche men in y e yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xxxvi y e fyrst yere of Stephan then kyng of Englande This also is called the yonger Lewys in whose begynnynge Iohannes de teÌ„poribus dyed Thys IohnÌ„ was somtyme a squyer in the house of Charlys the conquerour the whyche lyued ouer .iii. hundred yeres for whyche cause he was named IohnÌ„ of tyme as he y t myght remeÌ„ber thinges done of longe tyme passed This Lewys at y e tyme of his fathers deth was in the countrey of Guyan for to receyue the dower of his wyfe Elyanour as before in the storye and seconde chapyter of kyng Stephan is touched But when he harde of y e deth of his father he sped hym into FrauÌ„ce where after the necessaryes for the weale of his realme ordeyned he maryed his wyues syster named Alys vnto Arnolde erle of Uermendoze After whyche maryage solempnysed tydynges were broughte vnto hym that the crysten people beynge in the holy lande as warryours vppon the Turkes and Sarasyns were dystressed and ouerthrowen and dyuerse stronge holdes from them taken and wonne wherfore by the exhortacyon of that holy muÌ„ke Bernarde whych at this day is called saynt Bernard y e sayd Lewys wyth also Conradus the .iii. of that name then emperour of Almayne wyth Alphon then kynge of Spayne wyth dyuerse other nobles of Fraunce other prouynces toke vpon them the crosse and prouyded for the expedycyon of that iourney in the .iiii. yere of hys reygne after some wryters But of the takyng of hys iourney dyuers writers holde diuers oppinyons so that the doute resteth betwene the yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xl and the yere of .xi. hundred and .l. when all thynges were redy for that iourney the kynge the quene wyth the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce set forthwarde vppon that iourney and came in processe of tyme vnto Constantyn the noble where he met wyth Conradus the emperour and Alphons kynge of Spayne whom the prynce Emanuell then emperour of Constantyne the noble receyued ioyusly and made to theym by his outwarde contenaunce louynge and frendely chere and promised vnto theym ayde in that iourney bothe of vitayll and also for guydes for the nexte and surest waye But he contrary to his promyse dyd dysapoynte theym and nothynge ayded theym For he delyueryd vnto theym meale myngeled wyth lyme wherof grewe myche harme to the crysten hoste after And also he assygned vnto them suche guydes as brought them into places and couÌ„treys of sterylyte and other daunger so that hastely the Frenche kyng wyth great dyffyculte and losse of his men came vnto the citye of Danas and becleped yt with a stronge syege the whych he assauted and enpayred very sore and was lykely to haue wonne yt yf he had assauted y e place styll where he began But by counsayll of some false crysten men the whyche as wytnesseth Peter Dysroye and other had taken mede of the Turkes the kynge by theyr counsayll remoued the ordynaunce from the weker place vnto y
payd in one yere but by deuided porcions in .iii. yeres ensuyng And of the lay fee or temporall men of EnglaÌ„de he had grauÌ„ted to hym the .x. peny of theyr mouables the which was payd in .ii. yeres next ensuyng And thys yere in y e moneth of Marche was drawen hanged at London for treason done in Fraunce a knyghte called syr Thomas Turbeuyle And aboute y e tyme of Easter whan Charlys de Ualoys as ye before in that other yere haue harde had lyen longe at the castell of Ryon myght nothyng wynne vpoÌ„ the Englyshmen but dayly loste of the best of hys knyghtes he sent for more ayde and socoure At whyche tyme came vnto hym syr Rauffe Nele constable of Fraunce with a fressh company and thaÌ„ assawted it of new But whan they had lyen there a season sawe they preuayled nothynge agayn theyr enemys they yode vnto an holde there by named Poudency and it assauted for so moche as the more nombre of the sowdyours there were Normans and after .viii. days by appoyntemente or otherwyse gat the sayd holde so that all the Englisshemen had theyr lybertye goodes and the Normans taken as prysoners the whyche they brought after vnto the castell of Ryon and there in syghte of the sowdyours hanged al or the more partye of the sayde Normans whan the Gascoynes beynge wythin the towne and castell of Ryons sawe then theyr cosyns and couÌ„trey men hanged before theyr eyen they caste in theyr myndes that yt was done by treason of the Englysshmen and that they wolde at length deale wyth them in lyke maner By reason wherof stryfe and varyauÌ„ce arose betwene the EnglysshemeÌ„ and the Gascoygnes so that eyther of theym feryd the treason of the other For the whyche cause syr Iohan Seyn Iohan syr IohnÌ„ de Britayn syr Robert Typtoft syr Rauffe TaÌ„ny syr Hugh Bardolfe syr Adam Cretynge with dyuers other fledde by see and in that maner saued them selfe and soone after the sayd towne and castell of Ryons was wonne by the Frenchemen and the inhabytauÌ„tes of the same sworne vnto the freÌ„ch kynge ye haue harde before in the .xxii. yere of thys kynge howe after the dethe of Alexander kyng of Scottes many questyons fyll amonge y â— sayd scottes who by ryght of enherytauÌ„ce shulde be kynge of that lande consyderynge that the sayde Alexander had lefte after hym thre doughters the whyche lyuyng theyr father were maryed The fyrste to syr Iohan Bayloll the seconde to Roberte le Bruze and the thyrde to one named Hastynges Many of the lordes of Scotlande wolde haue crowned syr Iohan Bayloll by reason that he maryed the eldest of the doughters But the frendes of Robert le Bruze withstode it with all theyr power And other there were that heâ—de with Hastynges so that after greate stryfe and longe varyaunce the matter was broughte before kynge Edwarde as chyef lord and soueraygne of that lande promysinge to hym to abyde all suche determynacyon and iugemente as he shulde sette therin Than kynge Edwarde to the ende that the scottes shulde knowe perfytely that the kyng of EnglaÌ„de ought of ryghte to be there chyefe hede and soueraygne shewed vnto theym suche olde wrytynges as he lyttell tofore had caused to be serched and founde in the whyche it was conteyned by the auctorytye of olde cronycles and wryters as Maryanus y e scotte wyllyam of Malmesbury Roger of Huntyngdon and other that in the yere of our lorde .ix. C.xx kynge Edwarde the elder made subget vnto hym the kynges of Cumbrys and scottes Also in the yere of grace .ix. C. and xxi the foresayd scottes Cumbrys chase the sayd Edwarde the elder to be theyr chyefe lord and patron And in y e yere of our lord .ix. C.xxvi Ethelstane than kynge of Englande subdued constantyne than kyng of scottes and after admytted the sayd Constantyne to reygne as kynge vnder him by othe of obeysauÌ„s with feaute and homage Also Edredus brother to the sayde Ethelstane subdued of newe the scottes with the Northumbrys and receyued of them agayne othe and homage And ouer that it is founde in the sayd cronycles that Edgar ouercame Alphunius the son of Kynadus kynge of Scottes and receyued of hym feawty homage and helde hym vnder hys obeysauÌ„ce as he had done hys father Kynadus before tyme. Moreouer it is there wytnessed that Canutus in the .xvi. yere of hys reygne subdued Malcolyne than kyng of scottes and receyued of hym feawty and homage Furthermore wyllyam Conquerour in the .vi. yere of his reygne subdued Malcolyne kyng of Scotlande the whyche before tymes had receyued the sayde kyngdome of the gyfte of Edwarde kynge and confessoure And wyllyam the rede dyd in lykewyse vnto the sayde Malcolyne and vnto hys two sonnes that reygned in Scotlande the one after the other Also Dauyd kynge of scottes dyd homage vnto Stephane than kyng of Englande And wyllyam kynge of scottes dyd homage vnto Henry the thyrde at the tyme of hys coronacyon and after came vnto hys father Henry the seconde whan the forenamed HeÌ„ry was deed in Normandy made hys homage to hym agayne Thys Henry that was sonne vnto Henry the seconde is of many wryters named Henry the thyrd for so moche as he was the .iii. kyng that was crowned of that name But for he dyed before hys father hys dedes ben lytell spoken of so that of some wryters he is nothyng mynded And it foloweth in the story howe that AlexaÌ„dre kyng of Scottes in y t .xxxv. yere of HeÌ„ry the thyrd or son of kyng IohnÌ„ maryed at yorke Margarete doughter of the sayd Henry and dyd vnto hym homage for the realme of Scotlande and bouÌ„de hym and hys heyres kynges of Scotlande by hys letters patentes to be trewe vnto the sayd HeÌ„ry vnto his heyres kynges of Englande lyke as before tyme wyllyam kyng of Scottes had oblyged hym vnto the seconde Henry as before in the .xxii. yere of hys reygne is more manyfestly shewed And more to them was shewed y â— popes bulles the whych were sent before tymes into Scotlande by auctoryte wherof the kynges of ScotlaÌ„de were accursed for they wolde nat be obedyent to theyr lordes kynges of Englande WHan all these presedentes were sene by y e Scottes a day was assygned of metyng at NorhmÌ„ in the marches betwene Englande and Scotlande whyther vnto the kyng came the chief rulers of the Scottes where they excused them to be bouÌ„de vnto the kyng for the obseruynge of the kynges ordenaunce for so moche as they lacked a kynge an hede by whome all suche ordenaunces shuld be maynteyned and holdeÌ„ But after by aduyce of bothe parties agremeÌ„t was made by the scottes that they shuld be bounde to obey the kynges iugement wheruppon bondes were made vpon bothe partyes that is to meane the kyng was bounde to theÌ„ in an hondreth thousande pounde y t within .ii. monethes after he had receyued the possessyon of the lande he shulde gyue it vnto
sore warreyd of the Frenche kynge in somoche that he hadde wonne the towne of Margquet and the countre theraboute And for to put the sayde Guy vnto the more trouble the sayd Frenche kynge caused Robert erle of Artoys to inuade the couÌ„tre of FlauÌ„dres toward Pycardy encountred with y e sayd Guy nere vnto a towne called Furnes wher atwene y e said .ii. erles was foughteÌ„ a sharpe bataâ—l so that many men were slayne vpon bothe partyes After whiche fyght the Erle of Flaunders spedde hym towarde Gaunt where as kynde Edwarde than soiourned the erle of Artoys drewe hym towarde y e FreÌ„che kynge the whiche shortly after was receyued into the towne of Bruges In whiche tyme and season whyle y e sayd .ii. kynges laye thus at eyther towne a meane of peas was there treated of so that fynally a peas was coÌ„cluded atwene the .ii. kynges and atwene the Frenche kynge and Guy erle of FlauÌ„ders vnto the feest of all sayntes than next ensuenge And froÌ„ that day vnto the feast of all sayntes thaÌ„ .ii. yeres folowyng After whiche peas so stablysshed kynge Edwarde departed from the towne of Gaunte yode to Burdeaux And y e Frenche kynge retourned into Fraunce And prysoners were delyuered on bothe partyes In this tyme and season whyle kynge Edwarde was thus occupyed in FlauÌ„ders the Scottes by the entysement of the Frenche kynge to the entent to cause kynge Edwarde to kepe his countre that he shulde nat ayde the erle of Flaunders beganne to make warre vpon the kynges soudyours whiche y e kynge had lafte there in dyuers holdes And also entred vpon y e borders of NorthuÌ„berlande made sharpe warre vpon the inhabytauntes of that countre And for that syr IohnÌ„ Bayloll theyr kynge after some wryters was at y â— tyme prysoner in the towre of London or els voyded the couÌ„tre for fere of the kynge of Englande therfore the sayde Scottes made them a capytayne the whiche was named wyllyam waleys a man of vnknowen or lowe byrth to whom they obeyed as vnto theyr kynge Anone as y e kynge herde of the rebellyon of the Scottes which to hym was no great wonder consyderynge theyr greate vnstedfastnesse he wrote his letters vnto syr HeÌ„ry Persy erle of NorthuÌ„berlande to syr wyllyam Latymer and to syr Hugh Cressyngham than tresourer of Englande and to other that they in all goodly haste shulde make prouysyon to withstande the Scottes The whiche persones after receyte of the kynges letters spedde them all in spedy maner so that they entred Scotlande shortly after and coÌ„pelled y e Scottes to returne backe vnto a towne named Streuelyn where iÌ„ a skyrmyssh foughteÌ„ atwene the Englysshe and the Scottes syr Hugh Cressyngham forenamed with dyuers Englysshemen was slayne But yet the Scottes were holden so strayte of the Englysshe hoost that after that skyrmysshe they wolde nat of a certayne tyme come in playne felde but kepte theym within theyr castelles and stroÌ„ge holdes And this yere atwene Easter and wytsontyde certayne ê‘sones of LondoÌ„ brake vp the tunne in the warde of Cornhyll and toke out certayne persones that thyder were commytted by syr IohnÌ„ Bryton then custos or gardeyn of the cytie for nyght walkynge For y â— whiche ryot the sayde persones that is to meane Thomas Romayne and viii other were afterwarde greuously punysshed as fyrst by prysonmeÌ„t and after by fynes And this yere the kynge in y e moneth of October came into EnglaÌ„de and so to wynchester where the cytezyns of London made suche laboure vnto his grace that shortly after they opteyned graunte of theyr lyberties and fraunchyses that had in some parte be kepte from them by y e terme of .xii. yeres more So that vpon the daye of the translacyon of saynt Edwarde kynge and confessour next folowyng they chase them a mayre of them selfe where by all the foresayd tyme theyr custos or gardeyn was appoynted by y e kyng or by suche as y e kyng wold assygne But ye shall vnderstande that this was not redemed without great summes of money For after some wryters the cytezyns payde for it to the kynge .iii M. marke Also this yere kyng Edwarde put out of his proteccyon certayne Alyauntes whiche were rychely benefyced in England The cause was for the sayd alyauntes wolde nat ayde y e kynge with theyr goodes as y e other of his lande dyd but purchased an inibicyon of pope Boniface the .viii that they and theyr goodes shulde be fre from all the kynges dymes or taskys Therfore y e kyng ceased theyr temporaltyes and suffered theÌ„ with theyr spyritualtes tyl they were agreed with the kynge Anno domini M.CC.xcviii  Anno domini M.CC.xcix  Richarde Reffham  Henry waleys  Anno .xxvii.  Thomas Sely.  IN this .xxvi. yere after Chrystmasse certayne persones made a dyggyng and a serche in y e churche of saynt Martynes le grauÌ„de in LoÌ„don for certayne tresoure that there shulde be hydde as it was reported of a gardiner But theyr labour was in vayne for nothynge was there founde For the whiche dede y e deane of Poules the seconde sonday of lent folowynge denounced all theÌ„ accursed that were at that dede doynge or consentynge to the same In this yere aboute y e begynnyng of Aprell the kynge rode towarde Scotlande and appoynted his lordes with theyr companyes to mete with hym at yorke where with hym met a great hoost y t whiche he ladde into Scotlande and brent and spoyled the countre as he went and taryed a season at Barwyke And from thens he spedde hym in wynnynge of the townes and castelles as he went tyll he came nere to a towne named Fawkyrk or Fankyrk where vpon y e day of mary Magdaleyne or y e .xxii. day of Iulii met with hym y e power of Scotlande and gaue vnto hym a sore fyght But in the ende the vyctory fyll vnto the EnglysshmeÌ„ so that of the Scottes were slayne in y e felde as affyrme dyuers wryters ouer the nombre of .xxxii. M. and of Englysshmen but barely .xxviii. persones After whiche scomfyture the Scottes yelded to the kynge the more partye of the stronge holdes castelles that they tofore had holden agayne hym and made vnto hym newe othe and promysse and yelded them selfe vnto his grace and mercy And whan he had set that countre in an ordre and rule he thaÌ„ retourned into EnglaÌ„de and so to LoÌ„don where by y e aduyce of some of his counsayll he sodeynly daÌ„pned certayn coynes of money called pollardes crocardes rosaries caused theÌ„ to be broughte to newe coynage to his great aduauÌ„tage ye haue before herde in that other yere how that a truce or a peas was stablysshed at wene the kynge and y e kynge of Fraunce for the space of .ii. yeres and more the whiche fynally was concluded this yere that kynge Edwarde for a peas to be had bytwene both regyons shulde take vnto wyfe Margarete the suster of Philip
Cambrees erle of Atles and syr IohnÌ„ Comyn with other the whyce voluntarylye were sworne in presence of the kynge and hys lordes that they shuld be trewe vnto the kynge of Englande kepe the lande of Scotlande to hys vse agayne all other persones And yf any rebell or other malycyous persone distourbed the laÌ„de or breke y e kynges peas they shulde cause hym to be taken and sent vnto the kynge wyth many other articles coÌ„cernyng theyr allegeaunce the whyche full falsely they brake and contraryed shortely after Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.v.  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vi  Raynold Doderell  IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno .xxxiiii.  wyllyam Cansyn  IN thys .xxxiiii. yere Robert le Bruze contrary hys othe to kynge Edwarde before made assembled the lordes of Scotlande and by the couÌ„sayll of thabbot of Stone and other that fauoured hys vntrouthe he sent vnto the pope than Clement the .v for a dyspensacyoÌ„ of hys othe before made vnto kynge Edwarde and surmysed to hym that kyng Edwarde vexed and greuyd the realme of Scotlande wrongfully whereupoÌ„ the pope wrote vnto kyng Edwarde to leue of suche doynges And whyle thys matter was thus complayned on vnto the pope y e sayd Robert le Bruze made all the labour he myght vnto y e lordes of ScotlaÌ„de that he were admytted for kyng of y e regyon so that vpon the daye of the concepcyon of our Lady or the .viii. day of Decembre a great assemble of the lordes was made at the abbey of Stone And vpoÌ„ the day folowyng by the meanes of the abbot of y t place many of the sayd lordes assented to y e wyl of the sayd Robert except syr Iohan Comyn onely The whych in defence of hys trouthe and othe before sworne vnto kyng Edwarde many reasons excuses made and fynally sayd that he wolde nat false hys othe for no man For thys the sayd syr Iohan Comyn had great maugre of syr Robert le Bruze many of y e nobles of Scotlande But he helde hys oppynyon so fermely that other began to take hys parte that in that counsayll rose suche contrariete of opynyons and reasons that the sayd couÌ„sayll was dyssolued and a newe sette at the graye freers of Dunfrize after Candelmas next ensuyng At whych daye of assemble whenne the cause of theyr meting was by Robert le Bruze denouÌ„ced and shewed many of the great lordes of the land had grauÌ„ted to hym theyr aydes assistence the forenamed syr IohnÌ„ Comyn other sat styll and sayd no worde whyche Robert le Bruze marked well and to hym sayd And you syr IohnÌ„ I trust for defence and weale of thys realme ye wyll nat be behynde wherunto he answered syr I wolde that ye and al my lordes here present knowe well that for the weale and defence in the ryght of thys lande I wolde stande with it to the vttermost of my power But for I se that ye enteÌ„de rather the subuercyon than the weale therof I wyll therfore ye know I shal nother ayde you with counsayll nor yet with strength Some other also there were whose names the auctoure myndeth nat whyche allowed the sayenge of the sayde syr IohnÌ„ and in some wordes admytted hys sadde and trewe answere For the whyche Roberte le Bruze was so amoued that when syr IohnÌ„ Comyn with syr Rogyer hys brother was departed from the counsayll and was comyn into the chyrch of the freers Robert le Bruze hym folowyd and wounded to the deth with his swerde and after slew syr Rogier hys brother whyche wolde haue defended the foresayde syr IohnÌ„ After whose deth lytell or no resysteÌ„ce was made agayne the vntrewe meane dedes of the sayd Robert le Bruze so that he at saynte IohnÌ„s towne was crowned kynge shortly after It was nat longe after that kyng Edwarde was monysshed of all this vntrouth of the scottes wherfore he prepared hym to wende thyder And at Penthecoste he helde a great feaste of hys barony at westmyster durynge that feast made a greate noÌ„bre of knyghtes ouer CC. after mooste wryters And that feast ended he seÌ„t with a fayre company of knyghtes syr Aymer de Ualaunce erle of Penbroke and syr Henry Percy erle of Northumberlande into ScotlaÌ„de sped hym selfe wyth hys hoost soone after Than about the feast of the assuÌ„pcyon of our Lady the kyng faughte with the sayd Robert le Bruze and al the power of Scotlande in a playne nere vnto saynt IohnÌ„s towne And after loÌ„ge fyght and great slaughter of the scottes to y e nombre of .vii. M he chased the scottes In whyche chase syr Symon de Fryseyll erle of DuÌ„barre was takeÌ„ with also the bishoppes of saint Adrews and of Bastoon the abbot of Stoon or Scoon syr IohnÌ„ Chambres erle of Atles which bysshoppes and abbot kyng Edward sent after vnto innoceÌ„t the .v. thaÌ„ pope with reporte of theyr ê‘iury how they were taken armed in the felde to shede the blode of cristeÌ„ men And y e teÌ„porall lordes he sent into EnglaÌ„de so vnto the towre of LondoÌ„ And Robert le Bruze after thys scomfyture losse of hys chyef freÌ„des feryng lest y e scottes with suche Englysshmen as kyng Edward laft there wolde aryse agayne hym all comfortles fledde vnto the kynge of Norwaye there abode duryng whyle kyng Edwarde lyued whan thys noble prynce Edward had thus subdued y e scottes he yelded thankes to god of hys vyctorye And wheÌ„ he was ascertayned of the auoydyng of Robert le Bruze had set y e laÌ„de in a quiet ordre he retourned into Englande In thys passetyme were y e forenamed lordes of ScotlaÌ„de areygned at LondoÌ„ vpoÌ„ the euyn of the Natyuyte of our Lady put to deth theyr heddes after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydge And shortly after was IohnÌ„ waleys brother vnto wyllyaÌ„ waleys whych for lyke treason was put to deth in y e preceding yere taken haÌ„ged quarteryd And some scottes that were taken as prysoners remayned loÌ„ge in EnglaÌ„de or they myght acquite theyr fynaunce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vi  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vii.  Symon Bolet  IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno .xxxv.  Godfrey de la Conduyt  IN thys .xxxv. yere y e kynge for certayne causes hym mouyng retourned agayne into Scotlande Or after some wryters he taryed at Berwyke helde hys Crystmasse Easter in those partyes came nat into EnglaÌ„de after he had scoÌ„fyted y e scottes In the season of somer as he was retournyng into EnglaÌ„de a sykenes toke hym so ferueÌ„tly y e he knew wele he shuld dye wherfore he beyng at Burgthe vpoÌ„ the sande beyonde Carleyll called to hym syr Aymer de Ualance erle of PeÌ„broke syr Henry Percy erle of NorthuÌ„berlande syr HeÌ„ry Lacy erle of LyncolnÌ„ syr Robert Clyfforde baroÌ„ caused them to besworne before hym y t they shuld crowne hys sonne Edwarde in as conuenyent tyme after hys dethe as they myght and
by ordre of lawe or iustyce In thys yere also floured y e holy man called Robert a chanon of the house of Brydlyngtone the whyche of some wrytters is accompted for a prophete for verses that he made of thynges to come after in Englande whyche I passe ouer at thys tyme. Anno domini M.CCC.viii  Anno domini M.CCC.ix  wyllyam Basynge  Nycholas Faryngdone  Anno .ii.  Iohn̄ Butler  IN thys .ii. yere kyng Edward callynge to mynde the dyspleasure done vnto hym and to hys famulyer Pyers of Gauestone by the bysshoppe of Chester mayster walter Lanton as before is towched in the xxviii yere of the reygne of Edwarde hys father commaunded hym vnto the toure of London where he was streyghtely kepte many dayes after Than the lordes of the lande and specyally syr Henre Lacy syr Guy syr Aymer de Ualance erle of Lyncolne of warwyke of Penbroke to whome y e noble prince Edwarde y e .i. had gyuē so great charge y t Pyers of Gauestone shuld no more come into Englande sawe the rule of the lāde and howe the kynges treafoure by meane of the sayd pyers was wasted assembled them in counsayll of one assent with ayde of other lordes of y e realme spake so with the kynge that contrary hys pleasure he was auoyded the lande and banisshed into Irelande for that yere But the kynge sent vnto hym oftentymes secret messangers and comforted hym wyth many ryche gyftes or made hym hys chyef ruler of the countre Anno domini M.CCC.ix  Anno domini M.CCC.x.  Iamys of saynt Edmunde  Thomas Romayne  Anno .iii.  Roger Palmer  IN thys .iii. yere dyuers grudges began to moue sprynge betwene the kyng and his lordes for the exilynge of Pyers of Gauestone wherfore to contente amyte betwene hym them the sayd Pyers about y e feast of the natiuite of our Lady was fette home agayne and so contynued to the more myschyef of y e realme About thys tyme as testifyeth Cronica Cronicarum other the knyghtes of the ordre of saynte Iohn̄ Baptyste called saynt Iohn̄ of Hierusalē by theyr knyghtly manhode put out of the I le of Rodes or Rodhis y e Turkys and infidelis that to that day occupyed the sayd I le after that wanne vpon the sayd Turkys dayly and yerely so that at thys day they haue in theyr domynyon moche of the landes whyche at that day and longe after was in the power of the sayd Turkes Thys relygyō also was greatly preferryd by the fall of the templers whose possessyons and lādes were to them gyuen as it is before expressed in the thyrde chapytre and .xxi. yere of Phylyp the fayre Thys yere also after some wryters the crowched freres came fyrste into Englande Anno domini M.CCC.x.  Anno domini M.CCC.xi  Symon Croppe  Rycharde Roffham  Anno .iiii.  Petyr Blacnay  IN thys fourthe yere the rule and power of Pyers of Gaue stone more and more encreasynge in so moche that he hauynge the guydynge of all the kynges iewellys and treasoure yode vpon a day vnto west mynster and there out of the kynges iewell house toke a table a payre oftrestyllys of golde and conueyed them wyth other iewellys oute of the lande to the greate inpouerysshyng of the same and ouer that broughte the kynge by meane of hys wanton condycyons to manyfolde vyces as auoutry and other wherfore the foresayde lordes seynge the myschyefe that dayly encreased by occasyon of thys vnhappy man toke theyr counsayll togyther at Lyncolne and there concluded to voyde hym agayne out of Englande so that shortly after he was exyled into Flaunders to the kynges great dyspleasure Anno dn̄i M.CC.xi  Anno dn̄i M.CC.xii.  Symon Merwode  Iohn̄ Gysours  Anno .v.  Rycharde wylforde  IN thys .v. yere vpon the day of saynt Bryce or the .xiii. daye of Nouembre was borne at wyndesore the fyrst or eldest sonne of kyng Edwarde y t after hys father was kynge of Englande and named Edwarde the thyrde And this yere was agayn reuoked by the kynge Pyers of Gaueston out of Flaunders the whych after hys agayne commyng demeaned hym worse than he before dyd In so moche that he dysdayned the lordes of Englande and of them had many dyspytous and sclaunderouse wordes wherfore the lordes of one mynde assented to put this Pyers to deth soone after assembled theyr powers and besyeged hym in the castell of Scarburgh in proces wan that castell toke hym and brought hym vnto Gauersede besyde warwycke and there the .xix. daye of Iunu smote of hys hede wherof whan the kynge hadde knowlege he was greuously dyspleased agayne the sayd lordes and made hys auowe y e hys deth shuld be reuenged By meane of thys the rancoure that before betwene the kynge and hys lordes was kendeled now began further to sprede so that after thys day the kyng sought occasyō agayn hys lordes howe he myght put theym to greuaunce and dyspleasure In thys whyle dyed syr Henry Lacy erle of Lyncolne the whych lyeng vpon his dethe bedde requyred syr Thomas erle of Lācastre that had maryed hys doughter that he wolde stande with the other lordes in theyr defence for the weale of Englande The whyche request the sayd erle graunted and so fermely kepte or obserued it that at length he wyth many other loste theyr lyues as after in the story shall be shewed Anno dn̄i xiii C.xii.  Anno dn̄i xiii C.xiii.  Iohn̄ Lambyn  Iohn̄ Pontenay  Anno .vi.  Adam Lutekyn  IN thys .vi. yere the kyng held hys great court or counceyl of parlyamēt with the lordes spirituall temporall at London where by the aduyces of theym many good ordenaunces and statutes were made to oppresse the ryottouse and other myscheues that at those days were vsed Than the kyng was sworne to kepe those ordenaunces and after all his lordes to theyr powers After the whyche othe so takyn Robert archebysshope of Caunterbury blessed all theym that vphelde the sayde statutes and accursed all such as attēpted to breke any of the same It was nat longe after that worde was broughte vnto the kynge howe Robert le Bruze was retourned into Scotlande and hadde caused the Scottes to rebell of newe ye haue before harde in the .xxxiiii. yere of Edwarde the fyrste howe the sayd Edward chased the forenamed Roberte le Bruze oute of Scotland into Normandy But whenne he had harde of the mysguydynge of the realme of Englande and specially of the dyuysyon betwene the kynge and hys lordes he anone wyth a small ayde of the Norgans or Norwayes retourned into Scotlande where he demeaned hym in suche wyse to the lordes of Scotlāde that he in shorte processe was agayne made kynge of that realme and warred strongely vppon the kynges frēdes and wanne from theym castelles and strōge holdes and wrought vnto Englysshe men moche sorowe and
wyth many great enormyties And in that that ye thynke to haue the Flemynges in your ayde we thynke vs to be assured that the good townes and the commons wyll behaue theym in suche wyse agayne vs and agayne our cosyn the erle of Flaunders that they wyll saue theyr honoure and trouthe And in that that they haue mysse done tyll nowe hathe ben by euyll counsayl of suche people which regarde nat the common weale of the people but of theyr owne profyte onely Gyuen in the feelde of the pryory of saynt Andrew besyde Ayre vnder the seale of our secrete sygnet in absence of oure greate seale the thyrty day of the moneth of Iule It was nat longe after that the Frenche kynge hadde thus rescribed vnto kyng Edwarde but that a messynger came vnto hym frome Tourney for hasty rescouse for the towne was dayly and sharplye assauted of the Englysshe hoste wherefore in all haste he sente thyther the duke of Athenesse the vycounte of Thonart the vycount of Dannaye with dyuerse other to y e nouÌ„ber of .xv. men of name with great nouÌ„ber of peple The whych sped theÌ„ streyght vnto y e mount of Cassyle But or they came the sayd mount was gotten by y e Flemynges so that of theyr lodgynge they were dyspoynted By reason wherof they fered to set vpon the Englysshe hoste or yet to trauayll for y e remouyng of the sayd syege of Tourney but toke theyr counceyll swarâ—ed from Cassyle and entred y e lande of the erle of Barry and dyd moche harme therein And when they hadde there executed theyr pleasures they retourned vnto the Frenche kynge In thys meane whyle kyng Philip counsayled with hys lordes whether it were better for hym to drawe towarde Tourney to remoue y e siege or to go into Flaunders and to make warre vpon the townes that helde with kyng Edwarde By whych couÌ„sayll it was thought moste honorable that he shulde endeuer hym selfe to remoue y e sayd syege After whiche conclusioÌ„ so taken he with hys hoste drewe towarde Tourney and in the ende lodged hym and hys people at a place or towne called at that daye Bowyns within .iii. myles of Tourney in whose coÌ„pany was y e kynge of Nauerne the kynge of Bohemy or Beame the dukes of Normandy of Loreyne of Athenesse or AtheÌ„s the erles of Alensone of Flaunders and of Sauoy with other to the nouÌ„bre of .xiiii. erles besyde vycountes baronettes and knyghtes to a great noumbre And with kynge Edwarde were these lordes folowynge the erle of Herford the erles of NorthamptoÌ„ of Derbye of SouthaÌ„pton of Oxynforde of Henawd of Harflete and of rondell Also of straungers the duke of Geldre and of Sclauonye Brabant with many other vycountes banerettes and knyghtes whych I passe ouer And thus laye these two prynces with two great and myghty hostes within fyue myles withoute great batayll or fyghte a certayne of tyme. But euer in meane whyle the towne of Tourney was assayled of y e Englysshe men and Flemynges the whych defended them manfully and well In the whyche passe tyme the countesse of Henaude whyche was mother vnto the quene of EnglaÌ„de and as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle syster vnto the Frenche kynge a woman of passynge discrecyon and eloquency with y e ayde of other prynces as the kyng of Beame and other laboured suche a meane of treaty y t a daye of dyet was betwene the two kynges appoynted all be it that dyuerse of kyng Edwardes counsayll were sore agayne it and specyally Iakes de Artyuele Than for kyng Edwardes party was assygned the bysshoppe of Lyncolne syr Geffrey Scrope syr IohnÌ„ of Henaude brother to the erle syr wyllyaÌ„ Cheyny wyth other And for the FreÌ„che kyng was assygned the kynge of Beame the erles of Armenake of Sauoy syr Lewys de Sauoy and other And to the ende that thys appoyntement myght take the better effecte a daye of trewce was concluded tyll mydsomer folowynge But moste wryters testyfyen that kynge Edwarde lefte the syege before Tourney for defaut of money and neglygeÌ„ce of his slowe procuratours in EnglaÌ„de that sped nat hys nedes there as they shulde For that one cause and for that other the kynge with hys hoste departed thense vnto Gaunt and taryed there a certayne of tyme. In whych season the fore named lordes and knyghtes met at Tournay and there debated the maters of chalenge of kynge Edwarde and certayn artycles concernynge the countrey of Flaunders In whyche counsayll it was grauÌ„ted by the Frenche kynges partye that y e Frenche kynge shulde frely departe towarde the maryage of kynge Edwardes chyldren with the hole seygnoryes of Gascoyn and Guyan and the erledome of Poytyers in so fre maner that no offycer of the French kyng shuld medle or haue to do with in any parte of those lordshyppes And for FlauÌ„ders it was by the sayd lordes graunted that the commons of that couÌ„trey in all customes and lawes shuld be iuged ruled as they of olde tymes had vsed and also that all bondes and oblygacyons that in tymes passed the chyefe townes had made to the Frenche kynge for any cause shulde be cancelled and delyuered And of theyr erle they shulde be acquyted in lyke wyse for all offeÌ„ces done before that day Also all censuryes or curses y t they before were wrapped in shulde be clerelye adnulled reuoked with other coÌ„clusions and offers whych I passe ouer Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Rycharde Berkynge  Iohan Oxynforde  Anno .xvi.  Iohan Rokyslee  IN thys .xvi. yere kynge Edwarde vpon saynt Andrewes euyn came to the towre of London and sent for suche lordes as before he hadde made hys procuratours to leuye hys money in hys absence and for theyr negligeÌ„ce mysdemeanure cast theÌ„ in prysoÌ„ But in this voyage that the kyng passed from that other syde of the see into England he had excedynge tempest of wether so that he passed with great fere and dauÌ„ger whych tempest after the opynyon of some wryters was rered by the negromauncers of the French kyng to the ende to haue peryshed the kyng or els to gyue hym the lesse courage to take the see agayne In thys yere also were sent from y e .xii. Benet thaÌ„ pope two cardynalles to treate of a peace betwene the kynges of Englande of Fraunce The whych concluded a peace betwene the sayd two kynges aswell for them as for other countreys whych to theÌ„ were allyed for the terme of .iii. yeres and more In whyche tyme it was agreed that bothe the sayd kynges by theyr proctours shulde publysshe declare before the pope theyr claymes and causes to the ende that by hym and his couÌ„sayl a fynall dyreccion coÌ„corde myght be set betwene theym whych agremente of the sayde cardynalles was thus concluded in the towne called Malestrete aboute the feaste of saynte Gregory in lente beynge there presente for the kynge of Englande the erles of
tymes as it were about the noone tyde issued of eyther of theÌ„ an hoste of armed men to maÌ„nes syght And that hoste whyche issued oute of the castell of the south easte appered whyte and that other apered blacke These two hostes apered as though they faught eche of them with other and shewed as the whyte was fyrste vyctoryous and lastly ouercomen so dysapered In thys yere also a greate company of dyuers nacyons assembled theym in Brye and Champayne whereof the ledders or capytaynes were Englysshemen the whiche dyd moche harme in Fraunce But after the affyrmaunce of the FrencheÌ„ cronycle thys company whyche there is called the newe company beganne theyr assembles in the forenamed countre of Brye or kyng IohnÌ„ were delyuered frome Caleys And whan they were ware of hys delyuerauÌ„ce they departed out of Brye and yode into Champayne and toke there diuers holdes and spoyled and robbed dyuers small townes raunsomed many meÌ„ And in thys yere as sayth the frenche boke they toke the brydge and towne of saynt Sprytes vpon the daye of the Innocentes or the .xxviii. day of Decembre And as affermeth Policronycon aboute the same tyme another company in lykewyse assembled theÌ„ in Italye whiche was called the whyte company and molested that countre in lyke maner And in the moneth of Apryll folowynge kynge IohnÌ„ sente the erle of CaÌ„caruyle the erles of Salesbrugh of y e Marchez of Forezstes of Ioyn guy the whyche erles with theyr retinue met wyth the sayd company at a place than named Bruke nere vnto LyoÌ„ sur Rosne At whych place was foughten a cruell fyghte But in the ende the Frenche men were ouerset scomfyted so that the sayde erle of Cancaruyle was takeÌ„ prysoner and the two erles of Marchez and Forestes slayne wyth moche of the comoÌ„ people Anno domini M.CCC.lxi  Anno domini M.CCC.lxii  IohnÌ„ of saynt Albones  Stephen Caundissh  Anno .xxxvii.  Iames Andrew  IN thys .xxxvii. yere vppon the daye of saynt Mauryce or the xv daye of Ianuary blewe so excedyng a wynde y t the lyke thereof was nat sene many yeres passed This began about eueÌ„songtyme in y e south coÌ„tynued with such sternes y t it blew downe stronge mighty buyldyngê as to wres steples houses and chymneys coÌ„tynued for the more partye in suche sternesse by the space of fyue dayes after And in thys yere .xxiiii daye of the sayd moneth of Ianuary came IohnÌ„ kyng of FrauÌ„ce vnto Eltham besyde Grenewych and dyned there that daye wyth the kynge And vpon that after noone he was honorably conueyed thorough the cytie of London vnto Sanoye as well by y e cytezyns as other the whyche mette wyth hym vpoÌ„ Blakheth wel horsed in a lyuery of one colour And whyle the sayd kynge IohnÌ„ laye at y e sayde place of Sauoy about y e begynnyng of March folowyng a greuous sykenesse toke hym of the whych he dyed the .viii. daye of Apryl folowynge in the begynnynge of the yere of grace xiii C.lxiiii after was caryed into FrauÌ„ce and buryed at saynt Denys the .vii. daye of May folowynge And in thys yere kynge Edwarde created syr Leonel his sonne duke of Clarence syr Edmunde hys other sonne erle of Cambryge And in the ende of thys yere .xvii. day of Septembre began a great frost y e whych endured to the begynnyng of the moneth of Apryl By reasoÌ„ wherof moch harme grew ensued of the same Anno domini M.CCC.lxii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxiii  Rycharde CroydonÌ„  IohnÌ„ Notte  Anno .xxxviii.  IohnÌ„ Hyltoste  ANd that yere came .iii. kynges into EnglaÌ„d for to speke wyth kynge Edwarde Fyrst y e kyng of Fraunce the kynge of Sypres the kynge of Scottes IN this .xxxviii. yere prynce Edward sayled to Burdeaux and receyued the possessyon of Guyan y e kynge Edwarde had newely gyuen vnto hym For the whyche he after dyd hys homage to hys father in lykewyse and maner as his father other kynges of England were wont to do for the sayde duchye vnto the kynges of Fraunce And vpon Myghelmasse day beynge thaÌ„ vppon a sonday before the castell of Danhoy fast by the cytye of Uaunes in Brytayne mette y e hostes of syr Charles de Bloys and of syr IohnÌ„ de Mountfort whyche longe before had stryueÌ„ as before is shewed for the sayd duchy of Brytayne and there foughten a cruell batayll But by the helpe of god of the Englysh archers the victorye fyll to syr IohnÌ„ Mountfort And in that fyghte syr Charles de Bloys was slayne and many Frenchemen Brytons that toke hys partye After whyche victorye natwythstandynge that the wyfe of the sayde syr Charles laye within that countre there was agayne the sayde syr IohnÌ„ made no resystence but that he enioyed that countre in peasyble wyse ThaÌ„ Charles the .vi. of that name newly crowned kynge of Fraunce in the ryght of the woman sente y e arche bysshop of Reynes the Marshal of Fraunce into Brytaygne for to sette an vnyte and restfull peace betwene the sayd syr IohnÌ„ the laste wyfe of syr Charles The whyche endeuored them so well that in the moneth of Apryll folowynge the sayde batayll they agreed them so that the enherytaunce of that duchye shuld remayne to the sayd syr IohnÌ„ his heyres for euermore the wyfe of syr Charles shuld holde her conteÌ„ted wyth y e erledome of Penyture the vycouÌ„tye of Lymoges the whyche of olde tyme belonged to her ancetours And aboute thys tyme was an ordenaunce and statute made that sergeauntes prentyses of the lawe shulde plede theyr plees in theyr mother tonge But that stode but a shorte whyle Anno domini M.CCC.lxiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxiiii  Symonde MordonÌ„  Adam of Bury  Anno .xxxix.  IohnÌ„ of Metforde  IN thys .xxxix. yere after some wryters kynge Edwarde vppon saynt Stephans daye fynisshed hys warres wherfore in the worshyp of god and saynt Stephan he thys yere after the opynyons of the sayde auctours began y e fouÌ„dacion of saint Stephans chapell at westmynster The whyche was fynysshed by Rycharde the .ii. and sonne of prynce Edwarde next kyng of Englande after thys thyrde Edwarde Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxv  IohnÌ„ Brykylsworth  IohnÌ„ LuskynÌ„  Anno .xl.  IohnÌ„ Drelande  IN thys .xl. yere and moneth of February was borne the fyrste sonne of prynce Edwarde and was named Edwarde the whyche dyed whan he was aboute the age of .vii. yeres And in thys yere one named Barthran de Claycon a Norman wyth an armye of FrenchemeÌ„ entred the lande of Castyle warred vpon Peter than kynge of that lande so behaued hym that in lesse than .iiii. monethes space he chased the sayde Peter out of hys owne lande crowned hys brother named Henry kyng of Castyle at a towne called Burges vpon Easter daye wherefore the sayd Peter constrayned of
some wryters Siluius the brother of Gurgustius as affermeth the foresayde olde cronycle was made chyef ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .v. hundred and .xxi. This in y e englyshe boke is named Seyzill Of the whych is no mencyon made nother of his reygne nor dedes excepte that Geffrey of Monmouth wryter of y e hystoryes of Brytons sayth that he reygned two yeres whyche sayenge is not accordaunte wyth other wryters But more to the coÌ„uenyency of tyme and agrement of other cronyclers accordyng to the sayeng of the forenamed old authour he reygned by y e terme of .xlix. yeres and after dyed was buryed at Caerbadon or Bathe and lefte after hym none heyre of his bodye begotten THE XXII CHAPITER IAgo or Lago y e cosyne of Gurgustius as wytnesseth Gaufryde as nexte inherytoure was made gouernour of Britayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .v. hundred .lxx. This also ys vnmynded of wryters other for restfulnesse of tyme or ellys for rudenesse of his dedes that clerkes lyste not to speÌ„de any tyme in wrytynge of such dedes Of hym is nothynge specyfyed sauynge the forenamed olde authoure ioyneth to his tyme of reygne .xxv. yeres and also he sayth he dyed wythoute issue and was buryed by hys cosyn at Caerbrank or yorke THE XXIII CHAPITER BInimacus the sonne of Sisilliê° as some wryters haue but more verytably as sayth the olde cronycle y e brother of Lago was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand .iiii. huÌ„dred .lxxx and xv the whyche as his brother before hym passed his tyme without any notable actes or dedes so that of hym is no more memorye made theÌ„ of his brother For the more party they that wrote the faytes dedes of Brytons make but a shorte rehersayll of these .v. kynges y t is to saye from Ryuallo to Gorbodug sayeng that after Ryuallo succedyd Gurgustius after hym succedyd Lago to Lago succedyd Kinimacus after Kinimacus succeded Gorbodug Of these .v. kynges or rulers is made lytell other mencyon Thenne yt foloweth in the sayd olde cronicle that when this Kinimacus had reygned liiii yeres he dyed and was buryed by his brother at CaerbraÌ„k or york leuynge after hym a sonne as testyfyeth Flos historiaruÌ„ whych sonne was named Gorbodug THE XXIIII CHAPITER GOrbodug the sonne of Kinimacê° was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde folowynge the foresayde accompt .iiii. thousande .v. hundred and .xlix. whych all so passed his tyme lyke vnto the forenamed dukes or kynges wythout any specyall memory of honour noted by writers This by most lykelyhode to brynge historyes to accorde shulde reygne ouer the Brytons the terme of .lxiii. yeres whych terme endyd he dyed and lyeth buryed at new Troy or LoÌ„don leuyng after hym two sonnes named Ferrex and Porrex or after some wryters Ferreus and Porreus THE XXV CHAPITER FErrex wyth Porrex hys brother sonnes of Gorbodug were ioyntly made gouernours and dukes of Britayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousande .vii. hundred and .xi and contynued in amytye a certayne tyme. After whyche tyme expyred as witnessyth Policronica and also Gaufride Porrex beynge couetouse of lordeshyp gaderyd his peple vnwetynge Ferrex his brother entendynge to destroy hym wherof he beynge warned for lacke of space to assemble his people for sauegard of his persone fled sodeynly into Gallia or FrauÌ„ce and axyd ayd of a duke of Gallia named by Gaufryde Gunhardus or Suardus the the whych duke hym ayded and sent hym agayne into Brytayne with his hoste of Gallis After whose laÌ„dynge his brother Porrex with his BrytoÌ„s hym mete and gaue to hym batayll in the whyche batayll Ferrex was slayne with y e more part of his peple But here dyscordeth myn authour wyth some other wryters and wyth the cronycle of Englande for they testyfye that Porrex was slayne and Ferrex suruyuyd But whether of them was lyuyng the moder of these two brethern named widen settynge a parte all moderly pytye with help of her women entred the chambre of hym so lyuynge by nyght and hym there slepynge slew cruelly and cut into small peces And thus dyed the two foresayde bretherne after they had thus ruled Brytayne in warre and peace to the agrement of moste wryters .v. yeres THE XXVI CHAPITER HEre now endeth the lyne or of sprynge of Brute after the affermaunce of moste wryters For Gaufride saith after the deth of these forenamed bretherne great discorde arose amonge the Brytons y â— which longe tyme among them continued by meane wherof the people and couÌ„tre was sore vexed and noyed vnder v. kynges And further saith Guydo de Columna that the Brytons abhorred the lynage of Gorbodug for so myche as fyrste that one brother slew that other and more for the innaturall dysposycyon of the morder that so cruelly slew her owne chylde The cronycle of Englande sayth that after the deth of the two forenamed bretherne no ryghtfull enherytour was lefte on lyue wherfore the the people were brought in great discorde in so myche that the land was deuydyd in foure partyes So that in Albania was one ruler in Loegria or Logiers one other ruler in Cambria the thyrde duke or ruler in Cornewayle the .iiii. duke or ruler But of these .iiii. dukes the english cronicle alloweth ClotonÌ„ duke of Cornewayll for moste ryghtefull heyre Policronyca sayth that after y e deth of the foresayde two bretherne great dyscorde was in the lande whyche greuyd the people sore vnder .v. kynges But he nother reheseth the names nor the tymes of theyr regnes excepte he addeth to that the sayde dyscorde contynued tyll the tyme of Moliuncius Dumuallo So y t here appereth no tyme certayn how loÌ„ge this varyaunce and dyscorde amoÌ„g the Brytons contynued But who so lyst to loke vpon a draught made by me in english in y e beginnyng of this boke he shall se there yf he please to caste ouer the tymes and yeres there expressed that this forsayde discorde contynued nere to the terme of .li. yeres In whyche draught or conceyte yf any man here fynde erroure of his goodnes lette hym amende correcte yt and all other places where he shall by good profe fynde place of correccyon THE XXVII CHAPITER THus here endyth y e fyrst parte of this worke conteynynge or dyuyded in .vii. partes as before is shewed And in a waye of a thank to be gyuen to our moste blessyd aduocate helper of all wretches that to her lyste to call I meane y e moste blessyd vyrgyne our lady saynt Mary moder of Cryste for y t her grace hath fortheryd this worke hytherto and for to impetrate of her the grace and ayde of her moste mercyfull contynuauÌ„ce to accomplysh this worke begonne as before is shewed vnder supporte of her most bouÌ„teous grace here wyll I wyth humble mynde salute her wyth the fyrste ioye of y e .vii. ioyes whych begynneth Gaude flore virginali c.
hym and specyally besoughte hym to recoenyle her lorde husbande that she myght be restoryd to hys company But for Cadwan after many meanes and requestis myght not bryng that about he therfore tenderynge her necessyte kepte her in hys owne courte tyll she were lyghted The whyche at tyme brought fourth a man chylde whom she lette call Edwyn And soone after was the wyfe of Cadwan delyueryd of a sonne whom the father callyd Cadwalyn But the authour of the Floure of hystoryes sayth y t these two chyldern were long borne before this tyme. The whych shuld seme to be true for so myche as this Cadwalyn was of lawfull age to beweld his lande wheÌ„ his father dyed the which he coude not do yf he hadde nowe be borne But as affermeth Policronycon yt shulde seme lyke to a fable all the rehersayll that Gaufride maketh in the ende of hys boke as well for Cadwalyn and Edwyn as for the other cyrcuÌ„staunce of the mater there rehersyd whych varyeth from other wryters both for the tyme and also for the mater as somdeale is more in the hystorye hereof before made mencyon and also by the coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce of this storye For as Giraldus Cambrens and other seyen this Edwyn was the sonne of Elle or Ella kynge of Deyra the whyche was persecutyd of Ethelfridus before named theÌ„ kynge of both prouynces that is to meane Brennicia and Deyra so sore that he was compellyd to flee to Redwaldus then kynge of Gestanglys The whyche for mede or fere of the sayde Ethelfride was lastely consentynge to haue betrayed Edwyn of whyche daunger the sayde Edwyn was delyueryd by warnynge of a frende of hys After this escape as Edwyn satte vppon a time in a great study alone a straunger apperyd to hym sodeynly and sayde I know well the cause of thy thought and heuynes Therfore yf thyn enymyes were slayne thou restoryd vnto thy kyngdome sette the in better maner then any of thy forefathers woldyst thou not admytte such one for thy frende and assent and do by his rede and couÌ„sayll yes trewly sayd Edwyn and that I surely and fastely promise the. Then this man layd his hand vpon Edwynes hedde and sayde to hym Edwyn when this token is broughte to the then haue thou mynde of this tyme of trybulacyon and of this promyse thou haste made And anon as thys was spoken this man vanyshed out of his syght sodeynly In a conuenyent season after Edwyn assemblyd hys hoste and gaue batayll vnto Ethelfryde in the countrey of Mercia by eest the ryuer of Idle and slewe hym in that fyghte wyth a great noÌ„ber of his knyghtes and theÌ„ seasyd in his possessyon both the foresayde pryncypates and was kynge of Northumberlande by the terme of .xvii. yeres ye shall vnderstande that the forenamed Ethelfride hadde .iii. sonnes whyche are mynded besyde other The fyrste eldest was named Eaufricus the seconde Oswaldus and the thyrde Oswye The fyrst was of lawfull age so that he myght helpe and shyft for hym selfe But Oswald was but .xii. yeres of age and Oswy farre yonger wherfore theyr wardeyns immediatly after theyr faders deth sente theym into Armorica or lytell Brytayne there to be brought vppe or more veryly into Albania or Scotlande THE CXXIX CHAPITER ABoute this tyme and season as wytnessen Policronica Guydo and other began the kyngdome or lordshyp of Mercia vnder the stronge paynym and Saxon called Penda The whyche Mercia or Mercherike conteyned Huntyngdon shyre Hertfortshyre Gloucetershyre wyth dyuers other and was grettest and largeste of all the other was closyd in y e west syde wyth the ryuer of Dee stretchynge to Chestre Seuarne and so to Shrouesburye and Brystowe in the eest yt was closyd wyth the see Occean in the South with Thamys vnto London and in the north with y e ryuer of HoÌ„ber and had hys begynnynge vnder the fore named Penda as the accorde of dyuerse authours wytnessyth in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon .vi. hundred .xxvi and after the fyrste commynge of Hengyste a hundred and lxxvi yeres All be yt that of the fyrste kyng dyuerse opynyons there ben wherof a cause maye be for so myche as this lordshyppe in the fyrst begynnyng was departyd in .iii that is to say y â— fyrst was called eest Mercia the .ii. was named myddell Mercia and the .iii. weste Mercia But after yt was brought to one pryncypate called Mercherike or of some wryter myddell Englande Of thys lordshyppe the fyrste crysten kynge was called wolpherus that was the sonne of the forenamed Penda But of all the kynges of thys kyngdome of Mercia whych were .xviii. in nomber as testyfyeth Policronica Offa was of moste myght and power as after shall more playnly appere This lordshippe endured to reken moste certaynly tyll the yere of oure lorde .viii. hundred and .lxxvi. In the whych yere Alurede or Alhered then kynge of westsaxons ioyned yt vnto his owne kyngdome whych by that accompte shulde be two hundred .l. yeres All be yt that some accompte the endurauÌ„ce therof to the last yere of Burdredus that was putte out by the Danes by whyche rekenynge yt shulde then endure .iiii. yeres lesse And some wryters accoÌ„pte the terme therof whyle the tyme of Edward called the elder whych after the deth of his fader Alured put out the Danes from the sayde lordshyppe and ioyned yt agayne to westsaxon and by that accompte yt shulde laste .ii. hundred .lxxx. yeres and odde ye shall also vnderstande that in this kyngdome reygned dyuerse holy kynges whyche nowe be alowed by the chyrche for sayntes as Offa Kenelphus Kenelmê° and other as hereafter somedeale shall appere I haue seen an old regyster within the chyrche of Poulys of London wherin ys conteyned many thynges concernynge the fyrst foundacyon of that chyrch wyth certayne olde cronycles of thys lande Amonge the whyche yt is there notyd that in the tyme and season when Cadwan was kynge or ruler of the Brytons that in the same moment and tyme reygned in dyuers partes of this lande these .vii. kynges vnder wryten As fyrste Sybertus that then was kynge of Eestsaxons no Essex Redwaldus was then kynge of Eestanglys now Norff. and Suff. Ethelbertus was then kyng of KeÌ„t Ethelwaldê° was kynge of Southsex Kyngylsus was kynge of westsaxons Penda was kynge of Mercheryke And Ethelfridus was then kynge of the North couÌ„tre or Northumb. All whyche regyster this worke accordyth with yf the storys of this Cadwan Careticus Cadwall be duely serchyd THE CXXX CHAPITER LEtte vs than retourne to the perfourmauÌ„ce of the story of Cadwan and of such dedes as were done in his dayes About the .xiiii. yere of his reygne Quincellinus y â— was brother vnto Kyngylsus and kynge with hym as before in the C. and .xxviii. chapyter is touchyd ruled y e westsaxoÌ„s sent vpon an Eester day a swerdman to sle Edwyn kyng of Northumberland This swerdeman came to a cytye besyde the water of Darwent in
all pompe and pryde of thys worlde accompanyed hym in the felowshyp of poore men and yode vnto Rome in pylgrymage wyth great deuocyon when he hadde ben kynge of the westsaxons as before is sayde xxxvii yeres After whose departyng the foresayde Etheldreda hys wyfe went vnto barkynge .vii. mylys froÌ„ London where in the abbay before of Erkenwalde foundyd she contynued and ended an holy lyfe wheÌ„ she hadde ben abbesse of the same place a certayn of tyme. It is sayd testifyed of wyllyam wryter of kynges that this Iue was the fyrste kynge that grauntyd a peny of euery fyre house thorow this realm to be payed to the courte of Rome whych at this daye is called Rome stote or Peter pens and yet is payed in many places of Englande But why yt was graunted the cause is not here shewed how be it yt shall be shewyd after Francia THE CXLII CHAPITER CLodoueus y e thyrd of y e name son of the secoÌ„d Theodoricus beganne his domynyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of grace .vi. hondred .lxxx. and .x and the thyrd yere of Iue then kyng of westsaxons Of this Clodoueus is of wryters lefte no maner of memorye soundynge to good or euyll but Pepyn before named contynued as master of the paleys by all the tyme of the reygne of y e sayd Clodoueus The whych after that he hadde borne the name by the space of .iii. yeres he dyed wythoute yssue and was buryed by his father By reason of whose deth the sayde kyngedome fell by successyon vnto hys brother Childebert THE CXLIII CHAPITER CHildebertus the second sonne to Theodoryche and brother of Clodoueus foresayde began his domynyon ouer y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xiii and the .vi. yere of Iue then kynge of westsaxons In tyme of whose reygne also the foresayde Pepyn contynued as chefe ruler of the kynges house all be yt y e he for such other charge as he had of ouerseyng of the realme set in hys place a substâ—tute or depute as his sonne Grimonart and other Thys Pepyn contrary to the lawe of the chyrche helde besyde hys lawfull wyfe called Pleâ—trude a womaÌ„ named Alpayd For the whyche the holy bysshop of Treet named Lamberte blamynge and rebukynge the sayde Pepyn of the brother of the forenamed Alpayde whyche is called Dodon or Dodoin was slayne martyred in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xii as testyfyeth Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter of the â—iii tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke called summa Antonini And as affermeth the sayde Antoninus also the Frenche cronycle the sayde Pepyn receyued of the sayd Alpayde a sonne whom he named Charlys whyche Charlys was after surnamed Marcellus was ryghte profytable to the realme of Fraunce as after shall appere Of the foresayd kyng Chyldebert is nothynge lefte in wrytyng worthy memory excepte that he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Dagobert and kepte the name of a kynge by y e terme of .xvii. yeres as sayth the cronycle in French and than dyed and was buryed in the abbey of Caus in y e chyrch or chapell of saiÌ„t Stephan THE CXLIIII CHAPITER DAgobertê° the seconde of that name and sonne of Chyldebert before named began his reygne ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and .x the .xxiii. of Iue than kynge of westsaxons The whyche was vnder the rule of Plectrude the wyfe of Pepyn than dede and of Theodowald than mayster of the paleys Thys Plectrude as before is shewed was stepmother to Charlys sonne of Pepyn and of Alpayde wherfore she berynge malyce to the sayd Charlys caused hym to be holden as prysoner wythin Coleyne where he so as prysoner remaynynge the foresayd Theoldowalde exercysed suche tyrannys and putte vpon the people suche exaccyons y e dyscensyon grewe bytwene hym and the lordes of FrauÌ„ce so that dyuers coÌ„flyctes and skyrmysshes were had amonge the nobles of Fraunce for partyes were taken vpon eyther sydes whereby the kynges partye at length was wekyd And fynally the sayd Theoldowalde was depryued of hys rome and one Rangafredus was made mayster of y e paleys The whyche beynge Accompanyed with conuenyent strength toke with hym the kynge and coÌ„ueyed hym thorow the forest of CharboÌ„nur tyll he came vnto y e ryuer of Mense In y e which passetyme the forenamed Charlys beynge as aboue is sayde prysoner by fauoure of hys kepars or otherwyse brake pryson and escapyd And shortly after dyed the kynge whan he hadde reygned or borne the name of a kynge as other of hys progenytours hadde done by y e terme of .xi. yeres leuyng after hym nother chylde as than knowynge nor nere of a lye whyche was cause of mysorder of the tytle of Fraunce as afterwarde shall appere THE CXLV CHAPITER DAnyell that of y e Frenchmen was after named Chilperich was by assente of them made kynge in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and xxi and the .xxxiiii. yere of Iue than kynge of westsaxons Thus as testyfyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the Frenche cronycle was a preste or clerke and for his wysedome was cherysshed before tyme in the kynges paleys in y e whyche tyme and season he sufferyd hys crowne to be ouer growen Or ellys after Antoninus this Danyell after y e deth of Dagobert for so mych as he lefte after hym none of y e royall blode the Frenchemen supposynge hym to be apte for y e rule of the lond for suche experyence as before tyme in hym had be proued kepte hym secrete a certeyne of tyme tyll his heyre was fully growen and than declared hym to be the brother of Dagobert and chaungyd hys name and called hym Chylperych so by one assente admytted hym for kynge of Fraunce Charles before spoken of sonne of Pepyn beynge escapyd the daunger of prysonement sought and compassyd by all maner of wayes how he myghte obteyne the rome that sometyme hys fader occupyed And thys to brynge to effecte he purchasyd to hym a yonglynge of fayre goodly maners stature named Clothayre and sayd that he was descendyd of y e royall blode of Fraunce by meane wherof in shorte tyme he gaderyd to hym greate strength wherof heryng Chylperych commaunded Rangafrede to assemble hys knyghtes to wythstoÌ„de the purpose of Charlys And soone after bothe hostes mette nere vnto the forenamed ryuer of Mense where was foughte a strong and cruell batayle of y e whych Rangafrede was vyctor and compellyd Charles to forsake the felde But he shortly afterward assemblyd and gaderyd agayne togyder all suche as before were dysperklyd and fought efte wyth the sayde Rangafrede at a Place called Ablane Of the whyche batayle wyth great dyffyculte Charlys was lastly wyctour and chasyd Rangafrede and hys hoste greatly demynysshed lassyd Than thyrdly these two hostes met in a felde called the wyne felde where also was present the sayd Danyell or Chilperych hauynge in
and fette there his aimes hys sayde wyfe then lyenge at the castell of warwyke not knowynge of any man what he was tyll lastely he was visited with so sore sykenes that he knew well that he shuld dye wherefore he sente hys weddynge rynge vnto hys wyfe requyrynge her in all haste to come and speke wyth hym whych she obeyed in humble wyse and sped her vnto the sayd Heremytage wyth all womanly dylygence and fande hym deed at her commynge whom she besprent with many a salt tere And as she was enfourmed of the messenger as he dyed she buryed hym ryghte there And more ouer as saith my sayd authour he monyshed her by the sayd messenger that she shulde prouyde for her selfe for she shuld also alter her mortall lyfe the .xv. day folowyng which also she obeyed and made suche prouisyon that she was in that place buryed by hym All whyche mater the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate affyrmeth that he toke out of the boke of Gerarde Cambres̄ whyche wrote mych of the dedes and storyes of the prynces of Englande as Policronica and other authour testyfyen and as the sayde Lydgate in the ende of his sayde treatyse wytnessyth as by the mater folowynge appereth For more authorite as of this mater This translacyon such as in sentēce Out of laten made by the cronycler Called of old Gerardus Cambrēce whyche wrote the dedes wyth great dylygence Of them that were in weste Saxon crowned kynges Greatly cōmendyd for theyr knyghtly excellence Guy of warwyke in hys famouse wrytynges AL whyche sayde treatyse is shewyd at length in meter of viii stauys after the maner of the precedentes by the dylygent labour of the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate The whyche I haue here sette in for so mych as yt concernyth mater that was done in the tyme of the reygne of thys Ethylstane The whyche after the accorde of moste wryters ▪ broughte thys lande agayne to one monarchye and reygned as kynge therof by the full terme of .xvi. yeres and was buryed at the monastery of Malmysbury leuynge after hym no chylde wherfore the rule of the land fyll vnto Edmunde his brother Francia THE CLXXXVI CHAPITER LEwys the sonne of Charlis y e symple beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchmen in y e yere of our lorde ix hundred and xxxiiii and the .ix yere of Ethelstane then kynge of Englande ye haue harde before in the ende of the storye of Charlys y e symple how Elgina the quene wyth Lewys her yonger sonne was fledde into England to her father Edward the elder wherfore y e lordes of Fraūce not knowynge where she with the Chylde was gone chose the forenamed Rauf for theyr kynge After whose deth the said lordes of Fraūce beynge ascertayned of the beynge of the sayd Lewys in England sent vnto hym the archbyshop of Senys Hughe surnamed le graunde desyrynge hym to restore into Fraunce and take therof possessyon Then Elgina herynge the message of the lordes and trustyng vnto thē by counsayll of her frendes made her redy wyth her son sayled shortly after into Fraunce where she was receyued wyth myche honour shortly after crowned her sonne Lewys kynge at the cytye of Laon̄ This Lewys is named y e .v. Lewys In the thyrde yere of whose reygne fyll a scarcytye of corne vytayll by reason wherof ensued a great famyn in so myche that people voyded the realme many dyed for defaut For as wytnesseth the frenche cronycle a quarter of whete was then worth .xx. poūde of y e money which is of value after sterlynge money .l. s. or there about This kyng beryng in mynd the murder and treason done agayn his father by Hebert as before in the storye of Charlis the symple is declared cast and ymagined in his mynde how he myght wythout shedynge of blood reuenge the deth of his fader and after many ymagynacyons and thought is reuolued in his mynde he lastely dyuysed a letter the whych he charged a seruaunt of his to brynge to hys presence when he was sette amonge his lordes in counsayll when kynge Lewys hadde compassed this in hys mynde he for nedes of hys realme called a great coūsayll of his barony at Laon̄ whyther amonges the other the sayde Heberte erle of Uermendoys was warned to come And when the kynge was ascertayned of theyr commynges he apoynted a secrete cōpanye in harnes to be in a secrete chamber nere vnto the place of the sayde counsayll and at conuenient tyme after yode vnto the same and all his lordes wyth hym And when he hadde a season commoned wyth hys lordes of suche maters as hym lyked sodeynly came one to hym and sayd that a man was cōmen wyth a letter dyrected to hys grace oute of Englande the whych he commaunded to be broughte vnto hys syghte when the kyng hadde vnfolde the letter and radde a parte therof he smyled whereof the lordes beynge ware purposed the kynge to haue receyued some iewyllys or ioyous nouellys oute of Englande whyle the kynge was aboute to delyuer this letter to his scribe or secretory one of hys lordes sayde vnto hym Syr we truste ye haue some iocande mery tydynges oute of Englāde that ye haue cause of smilyng I shall shewe the cause to you sayde the kyng There is dwellyngin England a kynnesman of myne named Harman the whych is a man of gret myghte and myne especyall frende He shewyth me by this letter that an husbandeman or a vyleyne badde or requyred hys lorde vnto his howse to dyner and vnder the coloure therof he slewe hys sayde lorde And for the sayde Harman thynketh the law of that lande to fauourable for such an haynous dede hetherfore writeth to me to haue myne aduyse in thys mater wherfore sens ye be all present I praye you shewe to me your opynyons in this mater whych with one voyce sayde y t the murderer was worthy to suffer the moste shamefull and cruell deth to be hanged and strangled in a rope But for y e kynge wolde be certaynely enfourmed of the consentes of theym all he began at the hygest and so pursued theym tyll he came to Hebert erle of Uermēdoys the whych alowed the sentēce as the other hadde done Then the kynge made a token to y e walshemen betwene hym them before appoynted so y e anon they were present sette sure hold vppon the sayde Hebert To whom the kynge sayd Hebert thou art the husbondman or vilayne y t I haue spoken of whych slew his lord vnder colour of byddynge or gestynge hym in hys house For traytoursly thou dydeste requyre my lorde and father vnder thyne house or castell of Peron̄ and there not remembrynge the kyndnes to the by hym before dayes shewyd nor thyne allegyauntes and trouthe that toward hym thou shuldest haue borne kept hym lyke a prysoner and lastely murderyd hym to the greate daunger agayne god to the world shame wherfore accordynge to thy desert and after thyne own sentence and iudgemēt take now
kynge after hym To the whyche questyon was answered by Peter the kyngedome of Englyshemen is the kyngedome of god wherfore the kynges therof shall stande at goddes puruyaunce And also a nother doctour called Henry of Huntyngdon shewyd that an holy man warned Englyshe men y â— a lorde whyche they thought nothynge vppon shulde come out of Fraunce brynge them ryght lowe In the tyme also of thys Canutê° by agrement of many wryters fyll one thynge worthy mynde and memory In a town of Saxony named Calbis in y e dyocesys of Magburgh and parysshe of saynt Magii xviii men and .xv. women vppon the euen of the Natyuyte of our lorde began a daunce about the chyrche yarde of saynt Magu afore sayd the person or other prestes beyng than at masse wythin y e same chyrche which beyng troubled wyth the noyse of the mynstrellys also the dynne of the sayde men and women sent vnto them in monysshynge them to seace of that doynge But all was in vayne for they wolde not seace of theyr dysport for any commauÌ„dement y t to theÌ„ was gyuen wherwyth the preste beynge dyscontented that they none other wyse reuerenced y e sacrament noryed that solempne season besought god and saynte Magii that they shulde contynue theyr daunce by the space of an hole yere The whyche prayer was harde in suche wyse that they contynued the same songe daunce tyll that daye twelue monethes and neuer eate nor dranke nor rested theÌ„ in all y e season And moreouer dewe nor rayne fyll vppon them in all that yere nor garment nor no thyng that was about them was impayred shoo nor other At the yeres ende Horobertus archbysshop of that dyocesys came vnto y e sayde place and lowsed them of that bonde whych the preste had bounde them in and before the awlter of the chyrche them reconsyled Of the whyche a prestes doughter and two other dyed forth wyth and the remenaunt yode to reste and slepte by the space of .iii. dayes and iii. nyghtes folowynge where after some of them dyed and suche as lyued fell lame of theyr lymmes And one of the same .xviii. men beyng named Ubertus or Hupertus wrote thys wonder wyth hys owne hande for a more recorde of the trowth Then let vs retorne to Canutus of whom it is redde that after hys coÌ„myng from Rome he beganne somdele to presume in pryde set more by hym selfe than good wysdome wolde In tyme of whyche exaltacyoÌ„ of hys mynde he went vnto the Tamys syde and behelde howe the water swelled or flowed And so standynge nere the water the water touched hys fete Than he charged the water that he shuld flowe no hygher and that in no wyse he shulde to wche hys lordes clothes But the water kepte his course and wette at length the kynges thyes wherewyth y e kyng abasshed sterte backe and sayde all erthly kynges may know that theyr powers be vayne and that none is worthy to haue the name of a kynge but he that hath all thynges subiecte to hys hestes as here is shewed by worchynge of hys treature by thys water And for thys as wytnesseth Polycronycon and other he offered hys crowne to y e rode of wynchester and neuer bare it vpon his hed after It is also wytnessed of the sayde authour that Canutus maryed hys doughter hadde by hys laste wyfe vnto Henry sonne of Conradus the emperour the seconde of that name as also it is testyfyed of the authour of Cronica cronicarum And he repayred many monasteryes and specyally suche as before tyme were hurte or throwne downe in the tyme of hys fathers persecucyon And began and ended the monastery of saynt Edmundes Bury endowed it wyth ryche possessyons as before is towched And dyed fynally at Shaftesbury and was buryed at wynchester whan he hadde reygned .xix. yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes of hys wyues the eldest was named Harolde and the yonger Hardykynytus the whyche lyuyng hys fader was made kynge of Denmarke Francia THE CCVII. CHAPITER HEnry the sonne of Robert begaÌ„ hys domynyon ouer the French men in the yere of our lord M.xxix and the .x. yere of Canutus than kynge of Englande To the whyche Henry CoÌ„stantyne the moder was so vnkynde that she by her meanes wolde haue preferred her yonger sonne Roberte duke of Burgoyne to the rule of the lande before thys Henry so that by her meanes bothe cytyes and castels were wyth holden from hym and was by her suche other as toke her parte so ouer lad that he was forced to resorte to Robert than duke of Normandy for to aske helpe of hym to wythstande hys enemyes ye shall vnderstande that this Robert was the .vi. duke of Normandy and sonne of Richarde the seconde and also father vnto wyllyaÌ„ bastard that conquered Englande Thys Roberte was lyberall and noble of condycyon but defamed of y e deth of hys elder brother Rychard the thyrde For the whyche murder as wytnessyth dyuers authours the vii yere of hys dowchery he went to Iherusalem and dyd in that pylgre mage many honourable and liberall actes the whyche in good order ben remembred in the .xix. chapyter of the vi boke of Polycronicon This Robert receyued kyng Henry wyth all honour and gaue vnto hym greate and ryche gyftes sent for hys frendes and knyghtes so y e the kynge had by hys ayde a greate myghty hoste And retorned agayn into Fraunce and in short whyle after recouered from hys sayde moder bothe cytyes townes and castelles that she and her fautours from hym wythhelde And fynally agreed so wyth her that he and she contynued frendes theyr lyfe tymes enduryng After whyche accorde about the .v. yere of hys reygne he made warre vppon Eudo erle of Champayne vppon Baldewine erle of FlauÌ„ders and in processe of tyme wan froÌ„ them certayne cytyes and castelles the whyche Constance his moder hadde before tymes gyuen to them in tyme of dyscencyon In thys warre was slayne Eudo erle of Champayne wherfore hys .ii. sonnes Stephen Thybaud maynteyned the warre agayne the kynge but to theyr bothe harmes in y e ende For Stephen loste therby the cytyes of Chartres and towers and Thybaude y e cytyes of Troyes Maulx wyth other whan Henry hadde ended thys warre set hys lande in some quyetnesse he thaÌ„ buylded a monastery of saynt Martyne called Des ChaÌ„ps besyde Parys and set therin seculer prestes In thys passetyme Robert duke of Normandy moued in conscyence to vysyte the holy sepulture of oure lorde called before hym hys lordes of hys lande wyllynge and coÌ„maundynge them to owe theyr trewe allegaunce vnto hys yonger sonne wyllyam and to take hym for theyr lord and duke yf he retorne not agayne And to thys he caused to swere Robert than archbysshop of Roan with the other of hys lordes and after departed vppon the sayd iourney and dyed in the cytye of Bethenia as he was coÌ„mynge homewarde wherof y e lordes of Normandy beynge assertayned
neuew vnto Edward the confessour as before is shewed beganne hys domynyon ouer thys realme of Englande the .xv. daye of October in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousand .lxvii and y e ix yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kyng of Fraunce and was crowned kynge of the same vppon Crystmas daye nexte folowynge of Aldredus archbyshoppe of yorke for so myche as at that tyme Stigandus archbysshoppe of Caunterbury was then absent or durste not come in the pÌ„sence of the kynge to whome he ought no great fauour as in the sequele shall appere when wyllyam had sette in quyet a great parte of thys lande he betoke the gydyng therof to his brother the byshop of Bayon and in lent folowynge sayled into Normandye and led wyth hym the chefe rulers of England for doute of sturryng in tyme of his absence Amonge the whyche the two erles Marcarê° and Edwyne rulers of Northumberlande Mercia were two wyth also Stigandus and Edgare Ethelynge To the why the Stigandus wyllyam shewed great reuerence and couÌ„tenaunce of fauoure But all proued to great dissymulacyon after as was shewed by the depryuynge of the sayd Stigandus and prysonment of hym in wynchester towne by a longe terme and season In the next wynter whan wyllyam had sped hys besynesse in Normandy he retourned into England wyth greate pompe and sette a greuous trybute vpon the Englyshmen By reason wherof some partyes of the lande rebelled agayne hym and specyally the cytye of Excetour the whyche defended hym for a certayne of tyme. But lastly by force he wanne the sayde cytye and punysshed the cytesyns greuously For thys and other sterne dedes of wyllyam Marcharus erle of Northumberlande wyth Edgare Athelynge and dyuers other as hys moder and two systers Margarete and Crystyan sayled into Scotlande But another cronycle telleth y t Edgare entendynge wyth Agatha hys moder and hys two systers to haue sayled into Almayne where he was borne was by tempest of the see dryuen into Scotlande where of Malcolyne than kynge of Scottes they were ioyously receyued And in processe of tyme the sayde Malcolyne caste suche loue vnto the sayd Margaret that he toke her to wyfe as before is touched in the fyrste chapyter of the story of Canutê° Of the which Margaret the sayde Malcolyne receyued .ii. doughters and .vi. sonnes wherof thre named Edgare AlexauÌ„der Dauyd were kynges of Scotlande nexte folowynge theyr fader And Molde one of y e foresayd doughters was after maryed vnto the fyrst Henry kynge of Englande And the other doughter Mary was maryed to Eustace erle of Bolongii Of Molde the fyrste doughter Henry receyued .ii. sonnes named wyllyam and Rychard the whych bothe dyed before theyr fader as after in y e story of the sayd Henry shall appere And he receyued also two doughters named Molde and Mary whych Molde or Mawde was maryed to y e fyfte Henry emperour of Almayne After whose deth she was agayne maryed to Godfrey of Geoffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Aungeowe Of whom descended Henry surnamed shorte mantell and kynge of Englande called Henry the seconde And the other doughter Mary was maryed vnto the erle of Blaynes of whoÌ„ descended Molde or Mawde that was wyfe vnto kynge Stephen Than it foloweth that thys wyllyam after thys foresayd trybute so leuyed of the Englysshemen and knowynge of the depertynge of the lordes foresayde kepte the other the streyter But it was not longe after that Marcharus was reconsyled to the kynges grace and fayled agayn as folowynge shall be shewed For thys and other causes whyche were tedyous to shewe wyllyam exalted the Normans and gaue vnto them the chyefe possessyons of the lande so that they dayly encreased in great honour and welth and the Englysh men as faste decayed Kynge wyllyaÌ„ also made .iiii. stronge castels where of two be sette at yorke the thyrde at Lyndetyngham or Notynghm and manned them wyth Normans and the .iiii. at Lyncolne About the thyrde yere of his reygne Harolde Canutus sonnes of Swanus kynge of Denmarke came on lande in the North of Humber wyth a stronge nauy and in all haste drew them towarde yorke Than the Normans whyche hadde the rule of the towne and castelles feryng that the Englysshemen wolde ayde the Danys and wyth the houses of the suburbes of the towne haue fylled the towne dyches sette the suburbes on fyre wherof y e flame was so bygge and wyth the wynde so stronge that it toke into the cytye brent a parte therof wyth the mynster of saynt Peter In tyme wherof the Danys by fauour of some of the citesyns entred the cytye and slewe more than thre thousande of the Normans But it was not longe or kynge wyllyam chased the Danys to theyr shyppes and toke so greate dyspleasure wyth the inhabytauntes of that prouynce that he destroyed the land lyenge bytwene yorke and Durham in suche wyse that .ix. yeres after or there about the lande laye vnlabored vntylled onely out taken saynt IohnÌ„s lande of Beuerley the which was for borne by reason of a wreche done by dyuyne power vpon one of kynge wyllyams knyghtes The whych as he was besyed in wastyng and spoylynge of the sayde countre fyll sodeynly wyth hys horse so that hys horse brake hys necke and the knyghtes face was turned to his backe And of the famyne that the people of that countre susteyned wonders are reported that they shuld eate all maner of vermyn as cattes rattes dogges other so harde they were kepte by the warre of the kyng And in that yere also Molde or Mawde the wyfe of kynge wyllyaÌ„ was crowned quene of England of Aldredus archebysshop of yorke In the .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys kynge the Scottes with Malcolyne theyr kynge entred Northumberlande and wasted and destroyed sore that countre and slewe there in myche people and many they toke prysoners helde theÌ„ as bonde men But in the .vi. yere of hys kyngdome wyllyam made such warre vppon the Scottes that he lastely forced the sayde Malcolyne to swere to hym bothe homage and feauty as it is wytnessed of wyllyam of Malmesbery and other wryters THE CCXX CHAPITER Kynge willyam by counsayle of the erle of Hortford and other caused the abbeyes of Englande to be serched And what money in them at that season was founde he caused it to be brought to hys treasour For the whyche dede after the exposycyoÌ„ of some authours the sayd erle was punysshed as after shall be shewed Soone vpon thys in the tyme by twene Easter and wytsontyde was holden a solempne counsayle at wynchester of the clergy of Englande At the whyche counsayle were presente two cardynalles sent from y e second Alexaunder than pope In thys couÌ„sayle Stygandus archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was depryued from his dygnytye and that for thre skylles The fyrste was for that he had holden wrongfully that bysshopryche whyle Robert the archebysshop was lyuynge The seconde cause was for that he hadde receyued the Paule
feuours amonges the people and also great huÌ„ger and barreynes of y e erth Also in this yere great hurt was done in many places of y e lande by fyre and specyally in the cytye of London where vpon the .vii. day of the moneth of Iulii sodayne fyre began the whyche brent a great parte of the chyrche of saynte Paule wyth also a great parte of the cytye Then kynge wyllyam beynge in Normandye was syke and kept his â—hamber at RoanÌ„ a longe time wherfore Phylyppe the Frenche kynge in hys game sayde that wyllyam lay in chyldbeddeâ— and noryshed hys fatte wombe The whyche wordes when they were blowen to kynge wyllyaÌ„s crys he was greuously dyscontent and sayde when I am chyrched I shall offer to hym a thousande candellys lyghte wyth the whyche he shall holde hym smally contented The whyche promyse he after performed For in the moneth of Iuly wheÌ„ Corne fruyt and grapes were moste florishynge he entred Fraunce with a great army and sette on fyre many cytyes and townes in the west syde of Fraunce and lastely came to the cytye of Meaus and fyred yt brent a parte therof wyth the chyrch of our lady wherin he brent a womaÌ„ beyng closed in the walle of the sayd chyrch as a recluse But of this thynge speketh not the cronycle of Fraunce Nor yet for the more parte of any thynge that soundeth to theyr dyshonour done vnto theym by Englyshemen In this hete or as some wryters haue by y e lepyng of an horse kyng wyllyam toke such a dysease or sykenes that yt was the cause of hys deth And when he felt hym thus greued he called his sonnes before hym and exhorted theym in his beste maner that they shulde charytably loue and fauoure euery of them the other and holde to gyder as louyng bretherne after made his testameÌ„t and therin ordeyned wyllyam Ruffus or wyllyam the rede to be kynge of England And Normandye he beset vnto Rober Curthose And to Henry his yongest sonne he bequethed his treasour and mouable goodes And that done he enfourmed hys two eldest sonnes of the dysposycyon of both peoples and warned wyllyam to be louynge and lyberall to his subiectes and Robert to be sterne and sturdy vnto his Then he was moued with myldenes and delyueryd from prison hys own brother the byshop of Bayon Marcharus erle of NorthuÌ„berlande wylnotus the sonne of Harolde or after some the sonne of Goodwyne that was sent to wyllyaÌ„ by Edwarde the confessour to remayne for a pledge for his sayde fader Goodwyn And shortely after these thynges wyth other done he dyed in Normandye and was buryed in y e cytye of CaanÌ„ when he had reygned as kyng of Englande .xxi. yeres and vppon .x. monethes in the moneth of Iuly and the yere of hys duchery the .lii. when wyllyam was dede men spake of hym as they do of other prynces and sayd that he was wyse and gylefull ryche and couetous loued well to be magnifyed and praysed a fayre speker a greatr dyssymuler a man of skylfull stature but somdeale fatte in the bely sterne of face and stronge in armys and therwyth bolde and had therwyth great pleasure in huntyng and in makyng of great festes But he passed al other in leuyenge of taskes whyche condycyon hys subiectes construed .iii. maner of wayes and saydeyt was to the entente that he wolde excell all other in rychesse or ellys for to withstaÌ„de and defende his enymyes or ellys to staunche the appetyte of his couetyse mynde He buylded .ii. abbayes in Englande one at batayl in Sussex where he wanne the felde agayne Harolde and is at thys daye called the abbay of Batail y e other he sette besyde London vppon the south syde of Thamys and named yt Barmoundesay And in Normandye he buylded two also Thys man made the newe forest in the countrey of Southampton the whyche to brynge aboute he caste downe dyuers chyrches by the space of .xxx. myles and replenyshed yt wyth wylde bestes and made harde and sharpe lawes for the encreasyng of them as losyng of eyen and other And he helde Englyshemen so lowe that in hys dayes was almoste no Englyshe man that bare any offyce of honoure or rule But yet somedeale he fauoured the cytye of London and graunted to the cytezens the fyrste charter that euer they had the whych is wryten in Saxon tunge and sealed wyth grene waxe and expressed in .viii. or .ix. lynes THE CCXXIII. CHAPITER Wyllyam Rufus or wyllyam the erede the second sonne of wyllyam Conquerour beganne hys reygne ouer Englande in the moneth of Iulye and the yere of our lorde a thousande .lxxxix and the xxxi yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Ranulfe monke of Chester sheweth in hys boke of Polycronycon y t Robert Curthose eldest sonne of wyllyam Conquerour was at the tyme of hys fathers deth absent The whyche heryng that his father hadde preferred hys yonger brother to y e kyngdome of Englande was therwyth greatly amoued in so myche that he layde his dukedome to pledge to his brother Henry and wyth that good gatheryd to him a stronge army and so landed at HamptonÌ„ wherof wyllyam hys brother beynge warned in all haste sent vnto hym messangers to whome he gaue coÌ„myssyon to say in maner as foloweth Thy brother wyllyam prayeth y t to take no grefe with y t he hath done for he clepeth hym selfe not kynge but as vnder kynge to reygne vnder the and by helpe of the that arte gretter then he better rather borne And yf thou consyder yt well he hath nothynge mysused hym agayn the. For he hath taken vppon hym for a tyme bycause of thyne absence But for he is nowe in authoryte by thy sufferaunce he prayeth y t he may vnder the so contyue payeng to the yerely .iii. thousande marke wyth coÌ„dycyon that who so ouer lyueth may enioye the kyngdome when Robert had harde that message to the ende he wagged hys hedde as he that conceyued some doublenesse in thys reporte But for he was lyberall and allowed more the honour then he dyd hys profyte as in other thynges folowyng of his dedes yt shall appere therfore he lyghtely assented to all that was desyred and returned shortly after into Normandye wyth pleasaunt wordes wythout profyte Thys wyllyam was crowned the xxvii daye of September vppon the daye of saynte Cosma and Damyan and was well ayded of LamfraÌ„k whyle he lyued He was dyuers unstable of maners so y t betwene hym his lordes was ofteÌ„ dyssencyoÌ„ In y e spryngyng of somer folowyng hys coronacyon Odo byshoppe of BayoÌ„ whych as before ye haue hard was delyuered out of pryson by wylliam CoÌ„querour came into EnglaÌ„d whom the kynge ioyously receyued and gaue vnto hym shortly after the erledome of Kent But he toke vppon hym in processe of tyme to rule in suche wyse as the kynge grudged wyth hys doynge And for thys the kynge and his sayde vncle fyll at vnkyndnesse
so y t he withdrew hym froÌ„ the kynge and alyed hym wyth the byshop of Durham the erles of NorthuÌ„berland and Shrewesbury with other The whyche confederyd to gyder toke partye agayne the kynge and dyd thynges to his dyspleasure and hurte And amonges other damages by theym done Roger de Mount Gomoryk erle of Shrewesbury destroyed the countrey and endes of England vnto worceter town wyth ayde of the walshemen But in the ende thorough the prayer of the holy byshoppe wolstane the walshemen were so weked and febled that a few knyghtes scomfyted of them a great hoste when kyng wyllyam conceyued y e well nere all the Normans toke partye agayne hym he then forced of necessyte drewe to hym the Englyshemen And fauoured them by giftes easy lawes so that by theyr strength he lastely recouered the erle of Shrewesburye and chased some other of hys enymyes and shortely after occupyed the castell and strong holdes in Kent belongynge to byshop Odo hys forsayde vncle and in the ende coÌ„pelled hym to forswere England And y t done he besyeged y e citie of Rochester wherin the byshoppe of Durham the erle of Northumberland and other noble men were gadered and wan yt at length by appoyntement so that hys enymyes were vnto hym reconcyled In the thyrde yere of hys reygne dyed Lamfrank when he hadde ben archbyshop of Caunterburye .xviii. yeres By whose meanes the moÌ„kes of Englande were brought to the vse of theyr holy relygyon the whych before hys commynge lyued more lyke to seculer prestes theÌ„ religious men and exercysed them in huntynge and hawkynge for to auoyde idelnesse dysynge and cardynge in the wynter nyghtes that they myght be redy to kepe theyr howres and nyghtly seruyce And in theyr apparel they were lyke vnto consules and not vnto muÌ„kes wyth many other deformytyes The whych in y e begynnyng of Lamfrank he of policye suffered for a season lest he had brought all in his top atones and therby myght haue caused some scysme or varyauÌ„ce to haue rysen in the chyrche In auoydynge wherof wyth other inconuenyences he lytell and lytell refrayned them of theyr outrage and in ê“cesse of tyme caused and constrayned them to lyue after the constitucyons and rules of theyr relygyon Aboute thys tyme Robert Curthose duke of Normandy enteÌ„dynge to take hys vyage into the holy lande layde his dukedome to wedde to hys brother wyllyam for .x. thousande pounde For leuyenge wherof kynge wyllyam set a taske vpon his commons and subiectes and reysed a farre excidynge some vnder colour of the same so that byshoppes melted theyr vessell and lordes spoyled theyr tenauntes The kynge of Scottes also brake the peace before made with wyllyam Conquerour and wasted and toke prayes ut the countrey of Northumberlande Then the kynge prouyded a nauy and sayled thyther in the wynter tyme. But by y e tempest of the see halfe his nauy or a great parte of yt was drowned and many of his knyghtes were loste for colde and hunger But yet in the ende after dyuers conflyctes and bykerynges by mediacyon of frendes a peace and vnyte was concluded so that Malcolyn then kynge of Scottes shuld be obedyent to kynge wyllyam vnder the same othe that he was before tyme sworne vnto hys father and kynge willyam shuld yerely gyue vnto him in y e way of a fee .xii. markes of gold In the fourth yere of his reygne and the fyft daye of October passyng great tempest of wederyng fell in soudry places of Englande and specyally in y e towne of wynchecome For there by tempeste of thuÌ„der and lyghtenyng a parte of y e steple of the chyrch was throwen downe and the crycyfyx wyth the ymage of our lady also standynge vpon the roode lofte was in lykewyse ouerthrowen and broke and shatered And after folowed a contagye and a fowle stenche y e whych endured tyll the munkes had gone in processyon about the chyrch and all the houses adioynyng to that abbay and other places Also thys yere at LoÌ„don was great harme done by force of the wynde which blewe with such violence y t yt ouerturned or ryued as wytnessyth Polycronycon ouer the noÌ„ber of .vi. hundred houses And y e rofe of saynt Mary Bow in chepe was also ryued wherwith two men were slayne And also at Salesburye was hurte done wyth y e same wynde or y e lyke therof In the .v. yere of wyllyaÌ„s reygne he went into Northumberlande and repayred suche holdes and castelles as the Scottes by theyr warrys had blemyshed and apayred and caused a new castell to be made at Caercol y e cytye or towne whych the Danys of two hundred yeres passed hadde destroyed Then y e kyng returned vnto Gloucester where he was greuously veryd wyth sykenesse so that he wende he shulde haue dyed In tyme wherof he toke great repentaunce ê“mysed yf he myght escape he wold neuer sell mo benefices ouer that he wold ameÌ„de hys lyuyng become a new maÌ„ But after he was restored to helth that promyse was shortely forgoten And in that yere he gaue vnto Anselme the archbyshopryche of yorke But he myghte take of yt but as the kynges pleasure was tyll suche tyme as the kyng hadde taken his trybute therof And more ouer he auouched that the see of LyncolnÌ„ be longed to the see of yorke tyll the bisshoppe of Lyncolne had pleased him wyth a great summe of money as .v. thousande marke after the wrytyng of Ranulfe In the .vi. yere of hys reygne were excedynge floodes wherof the lyke in many yeres passed hadde not ben sene And after that ensued wonderfull frostâ— whych frose the great stremes in suche wyse y e horse and carte passed ouer y e gret ryuers And in the ende when the yse melted and brake the payse therof brake many a stronge brydge bothe of tymber and of stone THE CCXXIIII CHAPITER ABout thys tyme the welshemen with theyr kyng or duke named Rees brake out vppon the Englyshmen in the Bordour where standeth the castell of Brekenocke and there made masteryes for a while But in the ende his people were chaced and slayne and he wounded to deth so that he dyed the .iii. daye folowynge Thys Rees is accompted of wryters to be the laste kynge of walys For after thys daye they were so dauÌ„ted that kynges of Englande had them in suche rule that they were vnder more stedfaste obedyence than they were before tyme. How be it they rebellyd full often as after shall appere And the yere folowyng kyng wyllyam to haue y e countrey in the more quyet hewe downe mych of y e wood and buylded in sundry places strong castels and pyles by meane wherof more and more they were plucked to obedyeÌ„ce But not shortely after but specyally in the dayes of Edwarde y e fyrste and Edwarde the thyrde Malcolyn kyng of Scotland came vnto Glowcester to comon wyth the kynge of dyuers maters and to take a fynall agremeÌ„t But for kyng wyllyam wolde haue demyd
abbot and to haue the rule of so holy a charge and so he gaue vnto hym that benefyce wythout takynge any peny Thys kynge wyllyam vsed alway lemmans wherfore he dyed without yssue legyttymat when he had reyned as before is sayde fully .xii. yeres and odde dayes THE CCXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the .iii. son of wyllyam Cōquerour fyrste of y t name whyche for his connynge was surnamed beuclerk began hys reygne and domynyon as kynge of Englande the .v. daye of August in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred one and the .xliii. yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce was crowned at westmynster ryght shortly after of Thomas archebyshoppe of yorke and Morys byshoppe of London This Henry in his youth plyed him to such studye that he was instructe in the .vii. artes lyberall Anon he made holy chyrche free vsed saynt Edwardes lawes wyth the amendemēt of them He put out of his courte nyce and wāton men and closed Ranulphe byshoppe of Durham in the towre of Lōdon y e which as ye before haue harde was so great wyth wyllyam his brother and sent for Anselme archebyshoppe of Caunterburye whyche before was fledde fro the tyranny of wyllyam Rufus This Henry chastysed the olde vntrewe mesure and made a yerde of y e length of hys owne arme wyth dyuers other thynges reformyng that longe before his days had ben mysse vsed and abhorred excesse of metys and drynkes vsed to fyght more wyth coūsayll then wyth sworde In the seconde yere of his reygne Robert hys brother that by all thys season hadde ben occupyed in warres vppon Cristes enymyes hauyng worde of the deth of hys brother wyllyam and howe his brother Henry hadde taken vpon hym as kynge returned into Normandy and there made preparacyon for to come into Englande In this season also was brokē out of pryson Ranulfe byshoppe of Durham and comen to the sayde Robert into Normandy The whych excyted duke Robert in all that he myght to warre vppon hys brother Henry so that he assembled a stronge armye of knyghtes and toke shyppynge and landed in processe of tyme at Portysmouth But by medyacyon a peace was made and that in suche condycion that he shuld haue .iii. thousand markes yerely as before was promysed vnto hym by willyam Rufus his brother wyth other condycyons of successyon and other thynges the whyche I ouerpasse for length of tyme. Thus Robert beynge contented contrary to the myndes of his lordes after he a season hadde dysported hym in Englande retourned into Normandy where of his lordes he was for thys other dedes before done as after is shewed lytle or lesse and lesse setby For all be yt that by hys fathers lyfe he hadde vyctorye and vtterly dyspleased hym as some deale before ys touched yet by hys manhode and manfull dedes he fell into the fauoure of the people and dyd many and great notable actes and specyally at the wynnyng of the cytye of Acon vppon the myscreauntes and turkes For the whyche dedes yt apperyth by the sequele of the storye that he was also in the fauour of god For when the eleccyon shuld be made for the kynge of Hierusalem and certayne prynces and prynces peeres by ordynaunce made stode wyth theyr tapers abydynge the dyuyne purueyaunce that whose taper were fyrst wyth heuenly fyre lyghtened shulde be admytted for kynge the taper of thys duke Robert was fyrste onely wherfore by dyuyne purueyaunce he was then chosen kynge of Hierusalem The whyche he refused for the payne and trauayle that he shuld haue wyth all also for the couetyse of the crowne of Englande For as soone as he hadde knowlege of the deth of his brother willyam anon he parted the coūtrey and sped hym homewarde in all that he myght For the whych dede as affermeth myne authour he spedde the worse in all his dedes after Thys Robert was wyse in counsayll stronge in batayll and also ryght lyberall and in hys retourne from Hierusalem maryed the doughter of wyllyam de Auersana lorde of Apulia wyth whome he receyued grete sōmes of money for her dower the whych by meane of his liberalyte he spent shortly after Then fortune beganne to frowne vppon duke Robert and sette his owne lordes so agayn hym that they sent vnto kyng Henry hys brother wyllynge hym to come into Normandye and they wolde delyuer the coūtrey vnto him and holde hym for theyr chefe lorde and ruler wherunto as sayth the englyshe cronycle kynge Henry soone cōsented But or euer thys warre betwene the sayde duke Robert kyng Henry beganne thys Henry maryed Mawde or Molde the doughter of Malcolyne kyng of Scotlande and of Margarete hys wyfe doughter of Edwarde the outlawe as in the begynnyng of wyllyam Conqueroure is thouched Of the whyche Molde thys Henry receyuyd after some wryters two sonnes and .ii. doughters y t is to saye wyllyam and Rycharde Mawde Mary And also the sayd authour wyth other saye that Robert duke of Normandye came into Englande in the fourth yere of the reygne of kynge Henry and hadde good chere of his brother and syster For the which he at the request of his sayde syster released to his brother y e forenamed trybute of .iii. thousand markes But by yll tale tellers couetous of signory this broderly loue was after dissolued in such wise that the kynge with a strong army sayled into Normandy and held his broder Robert with so sharpe warre that he chased hym from one countrey to another and wanne from hym Roan Caan Faloys and all the good townes of Normandye and lastely constrayned hym to aske helpe of Phylyppe kyng of Fraunce after of the erle of Flaūdres but he fayled helpe of them both Then wyth such power as he could make he gaue batayll vnto his brother kynge Henry In the whyche he was taken and sent ouer into England and put into the castell of Cardyffe in walys where he remayned as prisoner whyle he lyued And when he was dede he was buryed at Glowcester In this tyme and season as it were in y e .iii. yere of kyng Henry y e chyrch of saynt Barthelmew in Smythfeld of London was begonne to be founded of a mynstrell of this kyng Henry named Rayer and after perfourmed and ended by good and well disposed cytezens of the citye of Lōdon This place of Smythfelde was at y e day a lay stowe of al ordure or fylth and the place where felons and other transgressours of the kynges lawes were put to execucyon THE CCXXVII CHAPITER SO as kynge Henry hadde fynyshed his warre in Normandye was returned into Englande Robert de Bolesyn which was the eldest sonne of Roger de mount Gomeryk erle of Shrewesburye arose agayne the kynge and manned his castellys of Shrewesbury of Brugg◠of Arundell and of Tekynhyll and incoraged the walshmen agayne the kyng But the kyng pursued so cruelly the sayd Robert y t wythin .xl. days he wan all thoses castellis
abode her people the whyche was deuyded and scateryd And in thys whyle she sente vnto Dauyd kynge of Scottes and her vncle for to ayde her the whyche in all haste came vnto her and so yode to wynchester where she layde syege to the byshoppes towre the whyche the kynges brother at that tyme helde wyth strength Then the quene wyth ayde of her frendes of Kentyshemen and other made a stronge hoste wherof was capytayne a knyght named Guyllyam de Pre. wheÌ„ the empresse harde of y e great strength of the quene and saw that her owne mynyshed rather then encreasyd she fled secretely and escaped vnto Glouceter And erle Robert her brother was taken soone after and put in pryson Then Dauyd kynge of Scottes herynge of thys returned into Scotland Then meanes was made vpon eyther syde for deliuery and exchaunge of the prysoners so that fynally yt was agreed that the kynge shulde be delyueryd for erle Robert But or thys agrement were concluded myche sorowe was wroughte wythin thys realme For the empresse pylled and spoyled on hyr partye and the quene by promyses and manaces borowed toke vppoÌ„ y e other syde the soudyours stale and extorcyoned vpoÌ„ both partyes so that riche men were made nedy and the poore were oppressed In thys meane whyle the empresse retourned agayne to Oxynforde vytayled and manned yt in her beste maner Then lastely the kyng was delyuered vpon holy Roode day in haruest and soon after he becleped Oxynford wyth a stronge syege from the tyme of Mychelmasse vnto the season of Crystemas at whyche tyme and season the empresse vsed a new gyle for constraynte and necessyte of vytayle In that tyme was great plente of snow fallen vppon the grounde and the frost was therwyth so great that Thamys wyth other great ryuers were then frosen ouer so that man horse myghte passe y e water vppoÌ„ the yse The empresse then constrayned of nede as before is sayd apparayled her and her companye in whyte clothynge whych a farre of apered lyke the snow and so vpon a plumpe goyng to gyther as nere as they myght escaped the daunger of theyr fone so came to walyngforde And thens in processe of tyme she wyth a small companye departed and retourned fynally into Normandye vnto her husbande So soon as the empresse was thus departed from Oxenforde the town was yelden vnto y e kynge where the kyng had mich of the empresse stuâ—â—e as wel harnes as other stuffe of housholde TheÌ„ he entendyd to haue pursued her But tydyngê° were brought vnto hym y t Ranulfe erle of Chester wyth an hoste of walshmen was commyng towarde hym But by medyacyon of frendes thys Ranulfe in the ende to the kynge was reconcyled and was wyth hym agreed About this tyme and season as yt is testyfyed of dyuerse authours the Iewes vpon Ester euyn crucyfyed a chylde named wyllyam in the cytye of Norwyche And in the tyme of Henry the second about y e .vi. yere of his reygn as sayth Policronicon they crucified an other at Glouceter In the .xxii. yere of his reygn kyng Stephan was agayne crowned at Lyncolne And soon after he toke froÌ„ Ranulphe erle of Chester the castell of Lyncolne Robert erle of Glouceter made also newe warre vppon the kynge had the better of the kynge at wyltone so that the kynge was lyke to haue fallen in Robertys dauÌ„ger But yet the kynge escaped wyth myche payne And there was taken a baron of the kynges named syr willyam Martel for whose delyuery the kynge gaue after to the sayde erle the castell of Shyrbourne And that done y t sayd erle Robert began to fouÌ„de a stronge castell at Faryngdone wherof the kynge beynge enfourmed assembled his knyghtes and sped hym thytherwarde by meane wherof the worke was for that tyme empeached let In the .xv. yere of the reygne of kynge Stephan the ryuer of Thamys was so strongely ouerfrosen that horse and carte passed ouer vppon the yse In the .xvi. yere Ranulphe erle of Chester dyed that was surnamed Gercyous and was the .iiii. erle after the conqueste and his sonne Hughe was erle after hym which was a maÌ„ of great strength and vertue And in the same yere as wytnessyth Guydo and other dyed Geffrey Plantagenet husband of Molde the empresse After whose deth Henry short mantell that was the son of the sayde Geffrey and Molde was made duke of Angeous Normandye The which in few yeres after maryed Elyanour the doughter of the erle of Poytow the whych Elyanour was before maryed vnto Lewys kynge of FrauÌ„ce and from hym deuorced for nerenes of blood when he hadde receyued of her .ii. doughters named Mary and Alys as wytnessyth the frenche cronycle And so this Henry was erle of Angeous by his fader duke of Normandy by his mother erle of Poytowse by his wyfe It was not longe after that Eustace the sonne of kynge Stephan wyth ayde of the Frenche kyng warred vppon Henry duke of Normandye the whyche after some wryters was ymagyned by Stephan his father to the entent to let or stop hym y t he shuld not come into England to clayme his enherytaunce But duke Henry defended hym so knyghtly y t the sayde Eustace wanne therby lytle honour or profyte An old cronycle sheweth that kyng Stephan entended to haue crowned the sayde Eustace his sonne kyng of Englande by his dayes but the bysshoppes of Englande refused y e dede by coÌ„maundement of the pope In the .xxvii. yere the kynge layd syege vnto the castelles of Newebery of walyngforde and of warwyke or warwell the whyche hadde ben kepte by the empresse frendes from the tyme of her departyng vnto that daye and hoped of rescous by Henry duke of Normandy But y e kynge then wan the castellys of Newebery and of warwell and walyngforde defended the holders tyl the coÌ„myng of Henry the duke The whyche in the ende of y e sayde yere wyth a great armye entred Englande and fyrste wanne the castell of Malmysburye And thens he yode to London and wanne the towre as myche by Polycy and by fayre ê“myse as by streÌ„gth And suche stuffe of vytayle and armoure as he fande therin he sent to walyngforde And that done he weÌ„t to the towne of walyngforde wan such holdes as were there about Then kyng Stepan wyth his power drewe towarde the duke and fynally by meane of medyatours as Thybaude archbyshoppe of CauÌ„terbury and other both prynces to comon of peace met nere vnto y e water of Uryn or Urn. But as fast as some laboured to haue peace so fast other laboured to haue warre so that at that communacacyon the peace was not concluded After the kynge and the duke were departed the kynge yode towarde Epyswyche in Suff. And the duke toke the way to Srewesbury where he wan the castell of the sayde town From thens the duke wente to Nothyngham and wan the towne wherfore the soldyours that helde the castell seynge that the
redounde vnto theyr dyshonour For the Frenche cronicle sayth that these two hostes thus as aboue is sayde lyenge to gyther wythout skyrmshe or assaute kynge Rycharde contrary the opinyon and mynde of hys lordes wyth a few accompanyed and vnharnaysed shuld come to y e Frēche kynges tente and there in presence of hys lordes shulde do homage to the Frenche kynge for the duchye of Normandye and coūteys of Angeou and of Poytyers and there swore to the kynge to kepe peace duryng his lyfe and after .viii. dayes met agayn and fynyshed the sayde peace wyth assuryd othe vppon eyther partye and after departed as frendes eyther resortyng into theyr owne countrey But yt semed a feynte peace For within foure monethes or lesse folowynge kynge Rycharde wyth hys hoste entred the prouynce of Berry and layd syege to the castell of wyersoune and gate yt by strength and after yode to the castell of Noryncourte the whyche was delyueryd to hym by appoyntement when kyng Phylyppe harde of the wynnynge and ouerthrowe of the castell of wyersoun he in damagynge of kynge Rychard layde syege to the castell of Aubeuyle and yt assayled egerly Buy yt was so stronge and so well defendyd by the Normannys that the Frenche kynge was holden of when kynge Rycharde had garnyshed and fortifyed the castell of Noryncourte wyth all thynge necessarye to the warre he drewe hym towarde Aubeuyle to remoue kynge Phylyppe from that syege and fell vppon the Frenche men vnwarely But the Frenchemen quyt theym so knyghtly that they chased kyng Rycharde and hys people and toke a Norman knyghte named Guy de Thonars a man of great hardynes And then kynge Phylyppe returned to the castel and towne of Aubeuyle and assauted it more sharpely so that in the ende y e souldyours of the town yeldyd yt wyth the castell for a certayne summe of money And when he hadde possessyon of the towne he threw downe the castell playne wyth the ground and after strengthed the towne wyth Frenche men and then yode to the castell of Gysours and from thēs resorted to the forenamed castell of Noryncourte and assayled yt in so cruell maner that shortely he wanne yt and toke therin .xv. knyghtes and .xxiiii. yemen wyth plente of vytayll and armour In thys tyme and season kynge Richarde gadered newe strength and allyed hym wyth Baldwyn erle of Flaūdres and with Renolde erle of Dampmartyn and of Boleyne By whose meanes as wytnessyth the frenche boke kynge Rychard wasted sore the countrey of Fraunce and brent therin some townes and vyllages and toke therein many ryche prayes Anno domini M.C.xcix  Anno domini M.CC.  Constantyne fyz Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .x.  Robert le Beawe  ABout the begynnynge of the moneth of October and .x. yere of Rycharde the sayde Rycharde entryd the countrey of Unequecyne wyth a stronge hoste and made therin cruell warre in destroyenge of the countrey and assauted the castell of Gysours and threwe to grounde a stronge holde called Courcellys and brent there about many vyllages wherwyth kynge Phylyppe was so greuousely amouyd y t wyth a small noumber of knyghtes he percyd the hoste of Englyshemen and entryd the castell or towne of Gysours But of his men were taken a certayn nōber as Alayne de Russy Mathewe de Melly Guyllyam de Mello and many other wyth the whyche prysoners and many riche prayes kyng Richarde then departed leuynge the Frenche kynge wythin Gysours It was not longe after that kynge Rycharde was thus departed but that kyng Phylyp callyng to mynde the great losse and dishonour that he had receyued by that warre of kynge Rycharde assembled a great army and entred the duchy of Normandy and wasted the coūtrey from Nuesbourth to Beawmōt le Rogyer And that done he returned into Fraunce and lycēcyd hys knyghtes to go eche man into hys owne countrey when kynge Phylyppe hadde thus fynyshed hys warre in Normandye kynge Rycharde then wyth hys armye entred the forenamed countrey of Unequecyn and also Beawuoysyn and toke wythin theym as he before had done ryche many prayes and with theym departed whom the byshop of Beawuays beyng a good knyghte and hardy of his handes wyth a companye of knyghtes and other folowyd to haue rescowyd the prysoners that kynge Rycharde had taken But they were taken and a certayne of hys company slayne Then the erle of Flaundres by the ayde of the Englyshe men toke the towne of saynt Omer from y e Frēche men In this season Innocent the Pope before named sente a legate into Fraunce named Peter de Capys to refourme the warre betwene the two prynces The whyche at that tyme was in such dysioynte that he coulde not brynge yt to any frame and specyally as sayth the Frenche boke because kynge Richarde wolde not delyuer hostages gagys as y e Frēche kynge wolde Then kynge Rycharde after Cristmas besyeged a castel nere vnto Lymogys Thys castell in y e Frēche cronycle is called Chalons in the englyshe boke yt is named Gayllarde The cause of this syege as saith most wryters was for certayne ryche treasour founden wythin the lordshyppe or sygnyory of kynge Rycharde the whyche one wydomer vycounte of Lemonke hadde founden and wyth helde from kynge Rycharde and for hys sauegarde fledde vnto the forenamed castell and defendyd yt manfully from the fyrste weke of lent tyll the .vi. daye of Apryll Uppon the whyche daye kynge Rycharde walkynge vnwysely about the castell to espye the feblenes therof one named Betrāde Guedon markyd the kynge and wounded him in the hedde or after some writers in y e arme with a venemous quarell After which woūde receyued by the kynge he commaunded sharpe assaute to be made in the whyche assaute the castell was won Then he made enquery who yt was that so had wounded him the which was brought vnto the kynges presence and named hym self as aboue is sayde or after some writers Peter Basyle Then the kynge demaūded of him why he shuld so lye in a wayte to hurte hym rather then any of his felowys For thou slew my father my bretherne sayde he wherfore I entendyd to auenge theyr deth what someuer became of me Then y e kyng forgaue hym his offence and sufferyd him to go at lyberte And the other of y e soudyours taken in that castell the kynge commaunded to be hanged But Polycronycon sayth that after kynge Rycharde was dede the duke of Braban whych then was present causyd the sayde Bartrande to be taken and flayne quycke and after hanged Then kynge Rycharde dyed the .iii. daye after that is to say the ix daye of Apryll and was buryed at Fount Eborard at the fete of hys father Howe be yt some wryters say that his harte was buryed at Roan his body as before is sayde and hys bowellys at Carleyll in Englande when he hadde reygned .ix. yeres .ix. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym none yssue Of thys Rycharde a metrycyan made these
versys folowynge Christe tui calicis praedo fit praeda caducis re breui reiecis qui tollit aera crucis Viscera Carleolum corpus fons seruat Ebardi Et cor Rothamagū magne Richarde tuum In terra diuiditur vnus quia plus fuit vno Non superest vno gratia tanta viro The which versys may be englysshyd as foloweth Cryste of the these whyche on the ryght hande was And axyd mercy to vs thou made a praye That we lyke wyse shulde for our trespasse Axe of the mercy and shewe no delay Nor for erthly thynges caste our self away For who of thy crosse accompteth lyttell store The meryte of thy passyon he losyth euermore Thys manfull knyghte thys prynce vyctoryouse whyche toke thy crosse on hym wyth great payne He folowed the thefe and axyd mercy thus For hys offence he warred thy foes agayne And shadde theyr blood on hyll and eke on playne And all for loue good lorde he hadde to the. wherfore swyte Iesu on hym thou haue pytye Of whom the bowellys at Carleyll and the trunke At fount Ebrarde full rychely ys dyght The harte at Roan into the erthe ys sunke Of the worthy Rycharde And so in thre is twyght That more than one whylom was in myght In erthe is separate that lyuynge more then one was and of grace founde lyke to hym none IOhn̄ brother of y e aboue named Rycharde yongeste son of Henry the seconde was ordeyned or proclamed kyng of England the tenth day of Apryll in the begynnynge of the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. .xix and the .xx. yere of the seconde Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Thys Iohn̄ at the daye of his brothers deth was in Normandy where at Chynon as soon as his brother Rycharde was dyseasyd he possessyd hym of hys brothers treasour and sent Hubert archbyshoppe of Caunterbury into Englande to make prouisyon for his coronacyon And vppon Ester daye folowyng he was gyrde with the sworde of the duchy of Brytayne sayled soon after into Englād where he was crowned kynge at westmynster vppon holy thursday next folowynge of the forenamed Hubert After whyche solemnitye done he ordeyned the same Hubert chaunceller of Englande In thys whyle the Frenche kynge helde a counsayll at Cenomannia in Turon where to the derogacyon of kynge Iohn̄ Arture the son of Geffrey Plantagenet and neuewe to the sayde Iohn̄ was made duke of Brytayne whyche incontynently after wyth a great army entryd the countrey of Angeou and toke possessyon therof And kynge Phylyppe wyth hys people entryd the duchy of Normandy and layde syege to the cytye of Euroux and wanne yt wyth all the stronge holdes there about and stuffyd theym wyth vytayll strengthed them with his owne knyghtes and that done wasted spoyled the the countrey tyll he came to the cytye of Meaus where met wyth hym the forenamed Arture dyd to hym homage for the countrey of Angiers In the moneth of May Elyanour somtyme wyfe of Henry the seconde and mother to kyng Rycharde came into Fraunce and so to the kynge to Meaus foresayde and made to hym homage for the coūtrey of Poytiers as her enherytaunce And soone after the kinge retourned into Fraūce and the duke of Britayne wyth hym whyche as yet was within age Kynge Iohn̄ heryng of this warre in Normandy and losse of the countreys aboue named assembled a coūsayll and axid ayde of his lordes and cōmons to wynne agayne y e foresayd landes had it graunted after some wryters .iii. s. of euery plough land thorough Englande besyde y e subsydy of y e spyrytuall landes And when he hadde made redy for that belonged to hys voyage he about heruest sayled into Normandy where he taryed tyll Octobre folowynge spendynge the tyme to hys losse and dyshonoure Anno domini M.CC.  Anno domini M.CCi.  Arnolde fyz Arnolde  Balliui  Anno primo  Rycharde fyz Darty  AFter Mychelmas in the moneth of October and fyrste yere of the reygne of kynge Iohn̄ a trewce or peace was concluded betwene the two kynges of Englande and of Fraunce from that daye tyll mydsomer nexte folowynge and in lyke wyse betwene the French kyng and Baldwyne erle of Flaundres And thys yere was made a deuorce betwene kynge Iohn̄ and hys wyfe the erle of Glocetyrs doughter because of nerenesse of bloode And after was he maryed vnto Isabell the doughter of the erle of Engolesym in Fraunce and had by her two sonnys Henry and Rychard and .iii. doughters Isabell Elyanoure and Iane. Thys yere dyed at London blessyd Hugh byshop of Lyncoln̄ and was conueyed to his owne chyrch there enterryd For whom god hath shewyd many myracles so that at thys daye he ys authorysed by the chyrche for a saynte At mydlent after kyng Iohn̄ sayled agayne into Normandy And after Ester he mette with kynge Phylyppe betwene Uernon and the yle Audeley where the peace betwene both realmes was stablyshed and cōfermed for terme of theyr two lyues and the landes deuyded betwene the two kynges as eyther of them shuld holde theym contentyd for theyr lyues after And in shorte tyme after Lewys the eldest son of kynge Phylyppe maryed dame Blanch doughter to Alphons kynge of Castylle and neuewe to kynge Iohn̄ To the whyche Lewys kyng Iohn̄ for loue of that woman shewyd to hym great bountye and gaue vnto her many ryche gyftes In the moneth of Iuly folowyng kyng Iohn̄ rode into Fraūce where he was receyued of the Frēche kynge wyth myche honour and so cōueyed into saynte Denys where he was receyued wyth processyon And vppon the morow the Frenche kyng accompanyed hym vnto Parys where he was receyued of the cytezens wyth great reuerēce and presentyd by the prouoste of the towne in name of the hole cytye wyth ryche presentis And there kynge Phylyppe festyd hym in hys owne paleys gaue vnto hym and hys lordes and seruauntes many ryche gyftes and after conueyd hym forth of that citye and toke leue of hym in moste louynge wyse And when kynge Iohn̄ hadde spedde his maters in Normandy he then returned into Englande Anno domini M.CCi.  Anno domini M.CCii  Roger Desert  Balliui  Anno secun  Iamys fyz Barth  IN y e moneth of december and seconde yere of kynge Iohn̄ Ranulphe erle of Chestre by the example afore shewed by kynge Iohn̄ lefte hys owne wyfe named Constaūce and countesse of Brytayne whych before he had maried by counsayll of kynge Henry the seconde wedded one Clemens One cronycle sayth he dyd so because he wolde haue yssue But the sayd authour sayth that after hys opynyon he dyspleased god so greatly that god wolde suffer hym to haue none yssue but the rather for that dede dyed wythout About thys tyme after opynyon of moste wryters the people or nacyon callyd Tartares beganne theyr domynyon These men dwellyd vnder the hyllys of Inde y t belonged to prester Iohn̄
Henry the sonne of Alwyne was sworne charged as fyrst mayre of London and Peter duke wyth Thomas Neell sworn for shryues and the name of bayllyues was after this daye clerely auoyded wyth in the sayde cytye from that daye forewarde Also where before thys tyme the brydge ouer Thamys at LoÌ„don was made of tymber and was ruled guydyd or repayred by a fraternyte or college of prestes This yere by the great ayde of the cytesyns of London and other passyng that way the sayde brydge was begonne to be edyfyed of stone And in thys yere y e monastery of saynte Mary Ouereys in South warke was begonne of to be buylded And in thys yere the pope sente two legates or after some writers one legate named Pandulphus the whyche in the popys name had many sore wordes of monycyon of obedience to kynge IohnÌ„ and charged hym to suffre the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye wyth the pryour and munkes of the same to enioy theyr ryghtes and possessyons wythin Englande and taryed here a certayne of tyme to brynge hys purpose aboute But all was in vayne for he yode agayn to Rome wythout releasynge of the enterdytynge Of y e maner of this enterdyccyon of this lande haue I sene dyuerse opynyons As some there be y e saye that the lande was enterdyted thorouly and the chyrches and housys of relygyon closyd that no where was vsed masse nor dyuyne seruyce By which reason none of the .vii. sacrameÌ„tes in all this terme shulde be minystred or occupyed nor chylde crystenyd nor man confessyd nor maryed But yt was not so streyghte for there were dyuerse places in Englande whyche were occupyed wyth dyuyne seruyce all that season by lycence purchasyd then or before Also chyldren were crystyned thorough all the land and men houselyd and anelyd excepte suche persones as were excepted by name in the bull or knoweÌ„ for mayteyners of the kynges yll entent Anno domini M.CC.x.  Anno domini M.CC.xi  Peter yonge  Henry fyz Alwyn  Anno .xii.  wyllyam Elande  IN this yere whych was the .xi. yere of kynge IohnÌ„ after mydsomer or the terme of the trewce were fylly runne kynge Phylyppe wyth a stronge hoste entryd the countye of Guyan and made newe warre vpon the vycounte of Thonars and toke hys castell called Parteny wyth dyuerse other stronge holdes to y e sayd vycounte belongynge and mannyd theym wyth Frenche men and ordeyned one Guyllyam de Roches marshall of Fraunce chefe ruler of that countrey and after retourned into Fraunce But yt was not longe after the kynge was departed but that the sayd vycount of Thonars made sharpe warre vpon the Frenchemen with such power as he myght make and recoueryd a parte of hys lande But one daye when he hadde wonne a lytle holde and taken therin a certayne of prysoners in his retourne towarde hys holde where he lodged he was supprysed wyth the forenamed Guyllyam de Roches a great multytude of Frenchemen of y e whyche after longe fyght he was fynally taken wyth syr Hyugh Thonars hys brother syr Aymery de Lesyngnam sonne of the erle of Poytyers to the nomber of .l. persones of his coÌ„pany y e whyche were all as prysoners then sent vnto y e Frenche kyng Anno domini M.CC.xi  Anno domini M.CC.xii.  Adam whetley  Henry fyz Alwyne  Anno .xii.  Stephan le Graas  IN this .xii. yere of kyng IohnÌ„ the pope sente agayne Pandulphe his legate and monyshed the kynge in sharpe maner that he shuld receyue mayster Stephan Langton to hys benefyce of the see of Caunterbury and the pryour wyth hys munkes vnto theyr abbay Then y e kyng callynge to mynde the dauÌ„gers whiche he was wrappyd in both wythin hys owne realme and also in Normandy and the hurtes whyche dayly grew to hym by the same made a promyse by othe that he wold be obedyent vnto the courte of Rome and stande and obey all thynge that the same court woll adiudge hym Upon whyche promyse so made the legate sent knowlege vnto the pope had commaundement from hym that he shulde bynde the kynge to these artycles folowynge Fyrste that he shuld peasybly suffer y e forenamed mayster Stephan Langton to entre his land and to enioye the archebyshopryche of Caunterburye wyth all profytes and frutes belongynge to the same Secondaryly that he shulde in lyke maner and forme receyue the pryour of Caunterburye and hys munkys wyth all other before tyme exyled for the archbyshoppes cause and not at any tyme here after vex or punyshe any of the sayde persones spyrytuall or temporall for any of those causes Thyrdely that he shulde restore vnto the sayd archbyshop to all y e other all such goodes as were before tyme taken from any of them by hys offycers syn the tyme of thys varyance growynge And fourthly y â— he shulde yelde vp into the handes of the pope all his ryght and tytle that he hadde vnto the crowne of Englande wyth all reueneus honoures and profytes belongyng to the same as well temporall as spyrytuall and to hold yt euer after both he and hys heyres of the pope his successours as feodaryes of the pope And when these artycles were graunted and the lordes of the lande sworne to the mayntenaunce of the same the kynge knelyng vpon hys knees toke the crown from hys hedde and sayde these wordes folowynge to the legate delyuerynge hym the crowne Here I resygne vp the crowne of the realme of Englande and Irlande into the popes handes Innocent the thyrd and put me holy in hys mercy and ordynaunce After rehersall of which wordes Pamdulphe toke the crowne of the kynge and kepte the possessyon therof .v. dayes after in token of possessyon of the sayde realme of England And wheÌ„ y e sayd .v. days were expyred the kyng resumyd y e crowne of Pandulphe by vertue of a band or instrument made vnto the pope y e whyche at length is sette out in the cronycle of Englande and other places wherof the effecte is y t the sayde kynge IohnÌ„ his heyres shuld euer after be feodaryes vnto the forenamyd pope Innocent and to hys lawfull successours popys of Rome and to pay yerely to the chyrche of Rome a thousande marke of syluer that ys to saye for Englande .vii. hâ—ndred marke and for Irlande .iii. hundred marke And yf he or hys heyr fayled or brake that paymeÌ„t that then they shulde fayle of theyr ryghte of the crowne But Polycronycon sayth vii huÌ„dred marke for Englande and two hundred marke for Irlande For the whyche summes after the affyrmaunce of that authour Guydo the money called Peter pens are at thys daye gatheryd in sondry places of Englande Anno domini M.CC.xii.  Anno domini M.CC.xiii  Iosne fyz Pet.  Henry fyz Aleyn  Anno .xiii.  IohnÌ„ Garlonde  IN this .xiii. yere of kyng IhonÌ„ and moneth of February mayster Stephan Langton archebyshop of
pryson at the kynges commauÌ„dement But after by labour of the blessyd byshop Edmunde of Pountenay he was recoÌ„cylyd to the kynges fauour when he had ben prysoned vppon .iiii. monethes and exyled vppon .xiii. monethis And this yere was done grete harme in London by fyre the whych beganne in an house of a widowe named dame Iane Lambert Anno domini M.CC.xxxii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxiii  Henry Eldementon  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xvi.  Gerarde Batte  IN this .xvi. yere kynge Henry vppon complaynt brought before hym by the frendes of Lewelyn prynce of walys y e willyam le Bruce or Brunze shuld coÌ„spyre agayne the kynge or after some for he kepte vnlawfully the wyfe of the forenamyd Hauylyn he was after longe prysonement hanged And this yere dyed Ranulphe erle of Chester Lyncolne HuÌ„tyngedon And his systers son named IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the erle of Angwyshe as before in y e .vii. yere of this kyng is declared was his heyre and helde that lordshyp after hym This IohnÌ„ of moste wryters is called IohnÌ„ Scot for so myche as his father was a Scotte This foresayd Ranulphe hadde no chylde all be yt he hadde .iiii. systers The eldeste hyght Molde or Mawde and was maryed to Dauid erle of Angwyshe and was moder to y e foresayde IohnÌ„ Scot. The seconde was named Hawys and was maryed vnto the erle of Arundell The thyrd Agnes was ioyned to the erle of Derbye And the fourth named Mabely was maryed vnto the erle of wynchester called Robert Quynacye Thys Ranulphe dyed at walyngforde and was buryed in the chapter house of the munkys at Chester and ordeyned the forenamed IohnÌ„ Scotte to be hys heyre for that he wolde not haue so noble a lordshyppe runne amonge or to be dyuyded betwene so many dystanys And thys yere dyed mayster Rycharde wethyrshed archbyshoppe of Caunterburye whose successour was blessyd Edmunde of Pountenay Anno domini M.CC.xxxiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxiiii  Symonde fyz Marre  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xvii.  Roger Blounte  IN this .xvii. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry the forenamed Edmunde of Pountenay or of Abyndon was sacred archebyshop of CauÌ„terburye He was named of Pountenay for so myche as he was buryed at Pountnay in Burgoyne And he was named Edmunde of Abyndon by reason he was borne iÌ„ Albyndon Thys blessyd man as before in the xv yere is shewyd reconcylyd Hubert of Burgth to the kinges grace and causyd hym to be restored to his former offyce as chefe iustyce of this lande In thys yere also the kyng beganne the foundacyon of the hospytayll of saynte IohnÌ„ wythout the Eestgate of Oxenforde In whyche yere also fyll wonderfull wether as thunder and lyghtenynge vnlyke vnto other And theruppon folowed an erthquake to the great fere of the inhabytauntys of Huntyngdon and nere there aboute Anno domini M.CC.xxxiiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxv  Rafe Aschewy  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ Norman  IN thys .xviii. yere of kynge Henry the Iewys dwellynge at Norwyche were broughte to fore the kyng at westmynster to answere to a complaynte made agayne them by one callyd IohnÌ„ Toly of the sayd towne of Norwyche that they shuld stele a chylde and yt cyrcumcysyd of the age of a yere and after kepte the same chyld secret to the entent to crucyfye yt in despyte of Crystes relygyon But howe the mater was folowed or howe so the Iewys acquytyd theym selfe by theyr answere trouthe yt is that they retourned vnpunyshed And in thys yere Frederyke the second of that name and emperour of Almayne maryed the syster of kynge Henry named Isabell as testyfyeth Policronica Anno domini M.CC.xxxv  Anno domini M.CC.xxxvi  Gerarde Batte  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xix.  Robert Ardell  IN thys .xix yere the morow after saynte Hyllary or the .xiiii. daye of Ianuary Edmunde archbysshoppe of Caunterburye spowsyd the kynge and Eleanoure the doughter of the erle of Prouynce in his cytye of Caunterburye And in the vtas of the sayde Hyllary she was crowned at westmynster as quene of Englande where in the felde by westmynster lyenge at the weste ende of the chyrche was kepte royall solempnite and goodly iustes by the space of .viii. dayes And the same yere the statute of Merton was enacted whych is to meane certayn actes made by acte of parlyament holden by the kynge his lordes coÌ„mons at y e towne of Merton where among other actys was ordeynyd a remedy for wydowes that were defrauded of theyr dowers also how heires with in age shuld be intreated remedies for such as were stolen or with holdeÌ„ coÌ„trary y e gardeyns willis But more certaynly yt was ordeyned at a ê‘lyameÌ„t at Merton foresayd which was holdeÌ„ the .xxx. yere of this kyng in y e morowe folowyng the daye of saynt Martyn or the .xii. day of NoueÌ„ber Anno domini M.CC.xxxvi  Anno domini M.CC.xxxvii  Henry Cobham  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xx.  Iurden Couentre  IN this .xx. yere of kynge Henry IohnÌ„ Scot before named erle of Chester dyed wythoute yssue male whefore the kynge coÌ„syderyng the great prerogatyues belongynge to that erledome gaue vnto his doughters other possessyons toke the erledome into hys own hand Thys IohnÌ„ dyed at Dorondale and was buryed amonge hys antecessours at Chester as affyrmeth Policronycon And also he sayth that he dyed wythout any chylde and that the foresayd exchaunge was made wyth the forenamed systers of Ranulphe before expressyd in y e .xvi. yere of this kyng Anno domini M.CC.xxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxviii  IohnÌ„ Thesalan  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xxi.  Gerarde Cordwaner  IN this .xxi. yere Octoboon a legate of the .ix. Gregory and pope came into Englande and ordeyned many good ordynauncys for the chyrche But not all to the pleasure of the yonge clergy of England wherfore as he one daye passed thorough Oxenford the scolars sought occasyon agayn his seruauntes and fought wyth them slew one of the same and put the legate in suche fere that he for his sauegarde toke y e belfray of Osney and there helde hym tyll the kynges mynysters coÌ„mynge from Abyndon wyth strength medelyd with fayre wordes deliueryd him and conueyed hym after wyth a competente companye vnto walyngford where he accursyd the misdoers and punyshed theym in suche wyse that the regentes maysters of that vnyuersyte were lastely compellyd to go barefote thorough Chepe to Paulys at London and there to aske of hym forgyues and hadde that trespace wyth great dyffyculte forgyuen Anno domini M.CC.xxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxix  IohnÌ„ whylhale  Rycharde Renger  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ Goundresse  IN thys .xxii. yere a false clerke of the foresayde vnyuersyte of Oxenforde whyche feyned hym selfe madde and beforetyme had espyed the secret places of the kinges court came by a wyndowe towarde the kinges
was dyscarged of his offyce and syr Hugh Bygotte then admytted for hym And for the foresayde Pyers harde of the murmure in the courte ferynge that the kynge shuld be aduertysed shortely to alter from his promyse therfore they enteÌ„dyng to make theyr partye the stroÌ„ger vppon the morowe folowynge Marye Magdaleyns daye the kyng beyng at westmynster the erle Marshall the erle of Leyceter wyth dyuerse other came vnto the Guyldehall of LoÌ„don where the mayre aldermen and comynaltye of the cytye were assembled where the sayd lordes shewyd an instrument or wrytynge at the whyche hynge many labellys wyth sealys as the kynges seale syr Edwarde hys sonnes seale wyth many other of the nobles of the lande the whyche was the contente of the artycles whych were ordeyned and made at Oxenforde wyllynge the mayre and aldermen cuÌ„syderynge the sayd actys were made to the honoure of god fydelyte vnto the kynge profyte of the realme that they wold also in vpholdynge of the same sette theyr common seale of the cytye After which requeste thus to the mayre and the cytesyns made after aduyse and counsayll amonge theym selfe taken they desyred a sparyng of the lordes tyll they myght speke wyth y e kyng and know his pleasure in that behafe But fynally no sparynge at that tyme myghte be graunted so that in the ende by the laboure that the lordes made wyth helpe of suche solycytoures as they hadde wythin the cytye the common seale was put to and the mayre and dyuerse of the cytye sworne to maynteyne the same theyr allegeaunce sauyd to the kyng wyth preseruacyon of the lybertyes and fraunchyses and so departed Then daye by daye after the sayd douze Perys assemblyd at the newe temple in where they kept theyr counsaylys and courtes for the reformacyon of the olde greuys and remoued from the kynge dyuerse of hys menyall of houselde and sette in theyr places and offycys suche as lyked theym And vppon the .ix. daye of August proclamacyon was made in dyuerse accustomyd places of the sayde cytye that none of the kynges takers shulde take any thynge wythin the cytye wythout the wyll of the owner excepte two tunne of wyne whyche the kyng accustomably hadde of euery shyppe commynge from Burdeaux payenge but .xl. s. for a tunne By meane of whyche proclamacyon nothynge was taken by the kynges offycers but yt were streyght payed fore wythin the cytye and lybertye of the same whyche vsaunce contynued but a whyle Anno domini M.CC.lvii  Anno domini M.CC.lviii Draper Thomas fyz Rycharde  Rycharde Hardell  Anno .xlii.  Robert Catelyon  IN this .xlii. yere the kyng held one parlyameÌ„t at westmynster and a nother or ellys prorogyd the same to wynchester And in this yere syr Hugh Bygotte iustyce wyth Roger Turkelay and other kept his courte at saynte Sauyours and helde there the plees callyd Itinerii The wyche is to meane the trauaylynge or the waye plees For ye shall vnderstande that at those dayes they were kepte in dyuerse places of Englande whyche nowe ben holden at westmynster and iudgys ordeyned to kepe a cyrcuyte as now they kepe the syzys in tyme of vacacyoÌ„ At this sayde courte these iudges ponyshed sore baylyes and other oâ—ycers that before theym were conuycte for dyuers trespassys and specyally for takynge of merceamentes otherwyse then the lawe theym commaundyd For the whych the sayd chefe iustyce prysoned them and after sessyd them at greuous fynys Also he somonyd the cytesyns of London to come vnto the sayde courte for tollys that they hadde taken vppon the farther syde of the water But yt was answered that the tollys that they there toke were takeÌ„ lawfully as they were redy to proue in places and court coÌ„uenyent to the same whyche was wythin the precyncte of theyr lybertye But not wythstandynge that answere the sayde syr Hughe chargyd vppon queste .xii. knyghtes of Surey to enquyre of that mater and other the whych acquyted the sayde cytesyns and shewyd that the sayde tolle belongyd to them of ryghte In processe of tyme after the sayd syr Hugh wyth other came to Guyld hall and kepte hys courte and plees there wythout all order of lawe and contrarye to the lybertyes of the cytye and there punyshed the bakers for lacke of syze by the Tumberell where before tymes they were punysshed by the pyllory and orderyd many thynges at hys wyll more then by any good order of lawe Thys yere vppon Candelmasse euen came vnto LoÌ„don from beyonde the see Rycharde kynge of Almayne and erle of Cornewayll wyth hys wyfe and chyldren whyche had ben there and taken possessyon of that kyngedome as before is shewyd Agayne whose commynge the cytye of London was rychely haÌ„ged wyth clothes of sylke and aras ioyously he was receyuyd of the cytesyns Anno domini M.CC.lviii  Anno domini M.CC.lix Peperer IohnÌ„ Adryan  IohnÌ„ Gysours  Anno .xliii.  Robert Cornehyll  IN thys .xliii. yere the frydaye folowynge the feaste of Symonde and Iude in the parlyament holden at westmynster were radde in presence of all the lordes and comynaltye at sondry tymes all the actys and ordynauÌ„ces before made in y e parliament holden at Oxenforde wyth certayn other artycles by y e fore sayd xii Peers there vnto added After redyng of which articles there beynge reuested the archebyshoppe of Caunterbury wyth dyuerse other to the nomber of .ix. byshoppes besyde abbotes other denouncyd all them accursyd that attemptyd in worde or dede to breke the sayd actes or any of them In this parilameÌ„t also was graunted vnto the kynge a taske callyd the Scutage that is to meane xl s. of euery knyghtes fee thorough Englande the whyche extendyd to a great summe of money For after dyuerse writers there be in EnglaÌ„de in possessyon of the spyrytualtye and of the temporaltye or at that dayes were ouer beyonde .lx M. kynghtes fees whych after y â— rate shuld exteÌ„de vnto .vi. score M. li. more And yf it shuld be gadered of y e teÌ„poral meÌ„ onely than yt shulde not amounte ouer the summe of .lxiiii. thousande pounde The kynge vppon the daye of saynte Leonarde or the .vi. daye of Nouember came vnto Pawlys where by his commaundement was assembled the courte of Folkmoot where the kynge accordynge to the former ordynaunces made axyd lycence of the comynaltye of the cytye for to passe the see promysed there in the presence of a great multytude of people that he wolde be good and gracyous lorde vnto the cytye by the mouth of syr Hugh Bygotte hys chefe iustyce and to maynteyne theyr lybertyes vnhurte For y t whyche the people for ioye made an excedynge showte Uppon the .viii. day of Nouember the kynge rode thoroughe the citye towarde the see syde And vppon the daye of saynte Bryce or the .xiii. daye of Nouember he toke hys shyppe and so sayled vnto Burdeaux where when he had taryed a season he rode vnto the Frenche kynge then beyng
gathered a stronge power weÌ„t into y t prouince subdued y c sayd Lewelyn And after retourned ordeyned certayne newe lawes for y e welth of y c realme whych are to loÌ„ge here to reherce AmoÌ„g the whych one was y t bakers makinge brede lackyng the weyghte assygned after the pryce of corne shuld fyrst be punysshed by losse of hys brede and the seconde tyme by prysonemente and the thyrdly by the correccyon of the Pyllory and millers for steling of corne to be chastised by the tuÌ„brell And thys to be put in execucyon he gaue auctorytie to all mayres bayliffes and other offycers thorugh Englande and specyally to the mayre of London Anno domini M.CC.lxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxv  Lucas Patencourt  Gregory Rokkisle  Anno .iii.  Henry Frowyke  IN the thyrde yere the kyng coÌ„fermed the lybertyes of y c cytie of London and graunted to theÌ„ som newe And thys yere he helde hys great court of parlyamente at westmynster and gaue monycyon to Lewelyn prynce of walys to come vnto the same the whyche presuÌ„ptuously that denyed wherfore the kyng after Easter entred agayue into walys so warred vppon Lewelyne that he was coÌ„streyned to submyt hym vnto the kynges grace and opteyned it wyth greate difficultye Then kyng Edwarde buylded the castel of Flynt and strenghthyd the castell of Rutlande and other with Englysshe men to kepe the walshemem in due obedyence and toke of theyr prynce a greate summe of money whych of some wryters is named .l. M. â—i and of some .l. M. marke of some other lasse so retourned into Englande In thys yere one water Haruy whych the fyrste yere of thys kynge after longe contrauersie and stryfe y t he had kept with y e aldermen of LoÌ„don at a folkmote kepte at Poules crosse was made mayre of London and so contynued to the hurte of the cytye that yere thys yere was he accused of dyuers periuries other detestable dedes coÌ„trary hys othe For the whyche for makynge of assembles of the commons whiche fauoured hym in hys yll dedes he was depryued of hys aldermanshyppe and counsayle of the cytye for euer fouÌ„de suertye of twelf honeste persones that he shulde be good of berynge for kepyng of y e kynges peas within the cytye for terme of hys lyfe after Anno domini .xii. C.lxxv  Anno domini M.CC.lxxvi  IohnÌ„ Horne  Gregory Rokkysle  Anno .iiii.  Rauffe Blount  IN thys .iiii. yere of kynge Edwarde Michael Tony whych in tyme of warre had wyth the walsh men demeaned hym otherwyse than stode with his trouth and alegeauÌ„ce was accused of treason and therof arreygned iuged and daÌ„pned after was drawen hanged quartered And thys yere was the statute of Mortmayne enacted fyrste whyche is to meane that no man shulde gyue into the chyrch any landes or reÌ„tes wythout a specyal lycence of y e kyng whyche acte syne that tyme hath ben more strongly enacted and deuysed wyth many addycyons thereunto augmented or annexyd Anno domini .xii. C.lxxvi  Anno domini M.CC.lxxvii  Robert Bracy  Gregory Rokkisle  Anno .v.  Rauffe Fenour  IN this .v. yere of the reygne of kyng Edwarde pope Nycholas the thyrde of that name made doctour Robert kylwarby than beynge archebysshop of Caunterbury a cardynal of Rome and admytted to that see a frere named doctour Iohan Pekham And in thys yere the kyng gaue vnto Dauyd brother to Lewelyne prynce of walys the lordshyppe of Froddesham The whyche Dauyd dwelled in the kynges court and dyd vnto hym plesaunte seruyce to the entent to spye the kynges secret couÌ„sayll And yf any thynge were spoken or done to the hurte of hys brother that he therof myghte gyue to hym warnynge as after by hys dede appered Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxviii  Iohan Adryan  Gregory Rokkysle  Anno .vi.  walter Langely  IN thys .vi. yere the kyng commaunded the courtes of his lawes as y e kniges beÌ„che y t chauÌ„cery y c comoÌ„ place the excheker to be remoued vnto Shrewysbury where Myghelmas terme was holdeÌ„ kept but agayne Hillary terme y t bokes officers was coÌ„termauÌ„ded agayn to west mynster to be there holdé In whych caryeng of y e recordes to fro they by reason of great pleÌ„te of rayne whiche in y t season fyl caught great hurt were fore defaced in so moche y t the bokes were greatly imperysshed y e clerkes had great laboure to brynge them to theyr former state Anno domini .xii. C.lxxviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxix  Robert Basynge  Gregory Rokkysle  Anno .vii.  wyllyam Mazerer  IN this .vii. yere the kyng held hys parlyament at London whyche was chefely set for the reformacion of the kynges coygne which was clypped in suche wyse that yt was therby wonderfully mynyshed and empayred In the season of this parlyameÌ„t many of the Iewes of LoÌ„don and other places were taken and put in holde for money clyppyng And in December folowyng certayn enqÌ„stes were charged in LoÌ„don to enquyre of the sayd Iewes and other that so hadde blemyshed the kynges coygne By the whyche enquestes the Iewes of the cytye wyth dyuerse goldesmythes that kepte exchange of syluer were indyted And the mondaye folowynge the Purifycacion of our lady the mayre wyth dyuers iustices of the lande sat at London where before them was caste .ii. hundred .lxxx. and .xvii. persones Of the whych but .iii. englysh men and all the other were Iewes and Iewes borne all be yt that many of theym were borne in England and therfore of some wryters they be named Englyshe Iewes the whyche were all at sondry times places put in execucyon In this yere also began the foundacyon of the chyrche of the freer prechour or blacke freres by Ludgate by theyr founder And in this yere the town of Bosten was greatly blemyshed wyth fyre Anno domini M.CC.lxxix  Anno domini M.CC.lxxx  Thomas Box.  Gregory Rokkysle  Anno .viii.  Rauffe More  IN thys .viii. yere the kynge caused in syluer the halfe peny to be coygned where before tyme other coygnes of metall raÌ„ne among the people to theyr great noyaunce and losse and farthynges of syluer were also coygned the selfe tyme. And the wynter folowynge aboute the daye of saynte Denys or the .ix. daye of October fell suche plence of snowe that thereof ensued myche harme Anno domini M.CC.lxxx  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxi  wyllyam Faryngdon  Gregory Rokkysle  Anno .ix.  Nycholas wynchester  IN thys .ix. yere of kynge Edwarde Dauid the brother of Lewelyn prynce of walys the whych as ye before haue harde dwelled in the kynges courte to knowe the kyuges counsayll and therof enforme his brother wheÌ„ he had that he wayted for he secretly gat hym into walys to his brother and hym excyted agayn the kyng
also begynnynge of the thyrde yere of kynge Rycharde and so came to Soysons and passed the ryuers of Oyse and of Marne and other so went before Troys and wanne it and after lodged them atwene newe towne and Sens. And euer as they passed the countreys other they toke great fynaunces or elles fyred the townes as they went And all be it that the Frenche kynge hadde sente agayne them an armye of Frenchemen to withstande them they letted them nothinge of theyr purpose but and they had any skyrmysshes with them the Frenchemen were put vnto the wors so that they bette them toke of them dyuers prysoners and raunsomed them at theyr pleasures And thus holdynge theyr iourneye they passed by the countrey of Gastinoys and so into Brytayne where they were ioyously receyued of syr Iohn̄ de Mountforde duke of that prouince than newly comyn thyther Anno domini M.CCC.lxxx  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxxi Fysshemonger walter Doket  wyllyam walworthe  Anno. iiii  wyllyam Knyghthode  IN this Mayres yere and ende of the thyrde yere of kyng Rycharde towarde the somer season in dyuers places of the lande the commons arose sodainly and ordeyned to them rulers and capytaynes and specially in Kent Essex The whiche named their leders Iacke straw wylwawe watte Tyler Iacke Shepeherde Tomme Myller Hobbe Carter These vnruled companye gathered vnto them great multitude of the commons after spedde them towarde the cytie of London and assembled them vpon Blacke hethe in Kent within .iii. myles of Lōdon And vppon corpus Christi daye beynge thanne the .xi. daye of Iune they entred the Towre of London and there the kynge beynge thanne lodged toke frome thens parforce mayster Sudberye than archebysshoppe of Caunterbury syr Robert Halys lorde or pryour of saynte Iohannes and a whyte frere cōfessour vnto the kynge whiche .iii. persones with houge noyse crye they ladde vnto the Hylle of the sayde Towre and smote of theyr heddes And whan they hadde so done they returned into Suthewarke by botes and barges there slewe and robbed all straungers tha they myghte fynde And that done they wente to westmynster toke with them all maner of Seyntwarymen so came vnto y e duke of Lācasters place standing without y e Temple barre called Sauoye spoyled that was therin and after sette it vpon a fyre and brent it And from thens they yode vnto y e hede place of saynt Iohn̄s in Smythefelde dispoiled that place in lyke wyse Than they entred the citye and serched the temple other Innes of courte and spoyled theyr places brent theyr bokes of lawe and slewe as many men of lawe and questmongers as they myght fynde And that done they went to saynte Martyns the Graunde toke with them all sayntwary men and the prisoners of Newgate Ludgate of bothe counters and distroyed theyr registers and bokes and in like maner they dyd with the prysoners of the Marshalsy and kinges benche in Southwerke whan Iacke Strawe had thus done all thyng at his wyll sawe y t no resistence was made agayne him he was smytten with so houge a presumpcion that he thought no man his pere And so beynge enflamed with y t presumpcion pryde he rode vnto the Towre where y e kyng was beynge smally accompanyed of hys lordes caused hym to ryde aboute some parte of the cytie and so conueyed hym into Smythfelde where in the kynges presence he caused a proclamacyon to be made and dyd full small reuerence vnto the kynge which mysordre presūpcyon whan wyllyam walworthe than Mayre of London behelde of very pure dysdayne that he had of his pryde ran to him sodainly with his swerde and wounded hym to dethe forthwith strake of his hede and areryd it vpō a speres poynte and therewith cryed kynge Rycharde kynge Rycharde whan the rebelles behelde theyr capytaynes hede anone they fledde as shepe Howe be it many were taken and many were slayne and the remenaunt chased that the cytie and subbarbes of y e same was clene voyded of them y t nyght whiche was mondaye and the .xv. day of Iune whan the kyng had beholden the great manhode of the Mayre and assystence of his bretherne the Aldermen anone in rewarde of that dede he dubbed the sayde wyllyam walworthe Nycholas Brembre Iohn̄ Philpot Nycholas Twyfforde Robert Laūdre and Roberte Gayton aldermen knyghtes And in this season also called the hurlynge tyme the cōmons of Norfolke and Suffolke came vnto the abbey of Burye there slewe one of the kynges Iustyces called Iohn̄ Caundysshe and the pryour of the place with other and after spoyled bare awaye moche thyng out of that sayd place But after this aswell the one as the other of these rebelles were taken in dyuers and sondry places and put in execucyon by .x. by .xii. by .xv. and .xx. so that one of them accused y e other to the distruction of a great noumbre of them Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxxi  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxxii  Iohn̄ Rote  Iohn̄ Northampton  Anno. v.  Iohn̄ Hynde  IN this Mayres yere and moneth of Aprell landed in Kent dame Anne the doughter of Charles the .iiii. late Emperour of Almayne lately dede and syster vnto wensyslaus at that day Emperour the whiche of the Mayre cytezyns of London was honorably met vpō blacke hethe and conueyed with great tryumphe vnto westmynster the .viii. day of the moneth of Maye shortely after there solemply maryed vnto kyng Richarde And about the same season or after some wryters in the later ende of Iune was an erthequaue in Englange that the lyke therof was neuer sene in Englande before that day nor sen. Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxxii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxxiii  Adam Bame  Iohn̄ Northampton  Anno. vi  Iohn̄ Sely.  IN this yere mayster Henrye Spencer bisshope of Norwyche with a great power of spirituall men and other croysed by the commaundement of the pope than Clement the .vii. enduryng the scisme before touched in the laste chapyter of Charles y e .vi. than kynge of Fraūce This sayd pope gaue this auctoryte to the sayd bysshoppe to make warre vpon the kynge of Spayne as some wryters haue for so moche as he contrarye the sayde popes commaundement withhelde certayne possessions belongynge of ryght vnto the duke of Lancastre syr Iohn̄ of Gaunte and specially vnto dame Constaūce his wyfe In perfourmaunce of whiche acte the said bysshoppe entryng the countrey of Flaunders fande there y e flemynges with dyuers myscreauntes suche as the foresaid king of the countrey of Spayne had thyther sent makyng resystence agayne hym wherfore he made to thē sharpe warre and wanne vpon them certayne townes as Grauelyng Burburgth and Dunkyrke and wanne great and ryche pyllage so that he his souldyours stuffed and freight with it as testyfyeth Policronycon xli shyppes But soone after the Flemynges assembled wyth suche strength that
about Dunkyrke they gaue vnto hym suche assaute that he was constrayned to gyue backe And for the said shippes and goodes shulde nat come vnto the possessyon of his enemyes he sette them on fyre within the hauen and so was wasted bothe shyppes and goodes And all be it that after this mysse happe he recouered his strengthe layed syege vnto y e towne of Ipre and wrought the flemynges moche care and trouble shortely after suche syckenesses fell amonge his people as the flyre and other that his souldyours dyed of them great noumbre for the whiche he was compelled to leaue hys iourney and to retourne into EnglaÌ„de In this yere also was a batayle or feates of armes done in the kynges palays of westmynster atwene one called Garton Appellaunt and syr IohnÌ„ Ansley knyght defendauÌ„t of whiche fyght at length the knight was vyctor and caused his enemye to yelde hym For the whiche the sayd Garton was from that place drawen vnto Tyburne and there hanged for his false accusacyon and surmyse Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii Grocer Symonde wynchecombe  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. vii  IohnÌ„ more   Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Nycholas Exton  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. viii  IohnÌ„ Frenshe  THis yere king Rycharde holdynge his Christmas at Eltham thyther came vnto hym the kynge of Ermony whiche was chased out of his lande by the Infydels and Turkes and required ayde of y e kynge to be restored vnto his dominyon The kynge fested and comforted him according to his honour after couÌ„sell taken with hys lordes concerninge that mater he gaue vnto him great sommes of money and other ryche gyftes with the whiche after he had taryed in Englande vpoÌ„ ii monethes he departed with glad countenaunce And soone after Ester the kynge with a greate armye yode towarde ScotlaÌ„de But whan he drewe nere vnto the borders such meanes were sought by the Scottes that a peace was concluded atwene bothe realmes for a certayne tyme. After whiche conclusion so taken the kynge returned vnto yorke and there restyd hym a season In which tyme varyaunce fell atwene IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de brother to the erle of Kent and the erles sonne of Stafforde by reason of whiche varyaunce in conclusion y e sayd sonne of the erle was slayne of the hande of the same syr IohnÌ„ HolÌ„ade for the whiche dede the kynge was greuously amoued departed shortely after with his company toward London Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxvi Grocer IohnÌ„ Organ  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. ix  IohnÌ„ Chyrcheman  THis yere kynge Rycharde assembled at westmynster hys highe court of parliameÌ„t Durynge the whiche amonge other many actes in the same counsell concluded he created .ii. dukes a marques and .v. erles Of the whiche firste syr Edmonde of Langley the kynges vncle and erle of Cambrydge was created duke of yorke syr Thomas of woodstoke his other vncle erle of Buckyngham was create duke of Gloucester syr Lyonell Uere y t was erle of Oxenforde was made marques of Deuelyn sir Henry Bolingbrooke sonne and heyre of IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t duke of Lancastre was made erle of Derby syr Edwarde sonne heyre vnto the duke of yorke was made erle of Rutlande syr IohnÌ„ Holande brother to the erle of Kent was made erle of Huntyngdone syr Thomas Monbraye was made erle of Notyngham and Marshall of Englande and syr Mychaell de la Poole was made erle of Suffolke ChauÌ„celler of EnglaÌ„de And by auctoryte of the same parlyamente syr Roger Mortymer erle of the Marche and sonne and heyre vnto syr Edmonde Mortymer and of dame Philyppe eldest doughter and heyre vnto syr Lyonell y e seconde sonne of Edward the thyrde was soone after proclaymed heyre paraunt vnto the crowne of Englande The whiche sir Roger shortely after sayled into Irelande there to pacifye hys lordeshyppe of wulster whiche he was lorde of by his foresayde mother But whyle he was there occupyed aboute the same the wylde Irysshe came vpon hym in noumbre and slewe him and moche of his company This sir Roger hadde Issue Edmonde and Roger Anne Alys and Elynoure that was made a nunne The .ii. foresaid sonnes died without issue and Anne eldest doughter was maryed to Rycharde erle of Cambrydge whiche Rycharde was sonne vnto syr Edmonde of Langley before named The which Rycharde hadde issue by the sayde Anne Isabell ladye Bouchier Rycharde that after was duke of yorke father to kynge Edwarde the .iiii. whiche sayd Richarde erle of Cambridge was put to deth by Henry the .v. as after shall appere In this yere also syr HeÌ„ry Bolingbroke erle of Derby maryed the Countesse doughter of Herforde by whome he was lorde of that countrey And by her he had issue Henry that after him was kynge Blaunche duches of Barre and Philippe that was wedded to the kynge of Denmarke Also Thomas duke of Clarence IohnÌ„ duke of Bedforde Humfrey duke of Gloucester Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvi  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii Goldesmythe wyllyam Stondon  Nycholas Exton  Anno. x.  wyllyam More  IN this .x. yere the erle of Arundell was sent into the duchye of Guyan for to strengthe suche soudyours as the king at that tyme had in those parties or after some wryters to scoure the see of rouers enemyes The whiche erle in kepynge his course or passage encountred a myghtye flote of Flemynges laden with Rochel wyne set vpon them and distressed them theyr shyppes and so broughte them vnto dyuers portes of EnglaÌ„de By reason wherof the sayde wyne was so plenteous in Englande that a tonne thereof was solde for a marke and .xx. s. the choyse And amonge other in that flote was taken the Admyralle of Flaunders whyche remayned here longe after as prysoner Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxviii Goldesmythe wyllyam Uenour  Nycholas Exton  Anno. xi  Hughe Fostalfe  THis .xi. yere of kyng Rycharde syr Thomas of woodstocke duke of Gloucester the erle of Arundell with the erles of warwyke of Derby and of Notyngham consyderynge howe the king and hys lande was mysse ladde by a fewe persones aboute the kynge entendyng reformacion of the same assembled them to haue a counsell at Radecoke brydge and after arrered great people so with a stronge power came to London there caused y e king to call a ê‘liament wherof herynge maister Alexander Neuyle than archebysshop of yorke sir Lyonell Uere marques of Deuelyn and syr Mychaell de la Poole Chaunceller and erle of Suffolke fearyng punisshement fledde the lande and so died in straunge countreys Than the kynge by counsell of the other aboue named lordes durynge the parlyament caused to be taken syr Roberte Treuylian chefe Iustyce of Englande syr Nycholas Brembre late mayre of the cytie of London sir IohnÌ„ Salysbury knyghte of housholde sâ—r IohnÌ„ BeauchaÌ„p stewarde also of the kynges house
realme of Fraunce had at Egyncourte a tryumphant victory as in the sayde thyrde yere of HeÌ„ry the .v. is more at lengthe declared Than it foloweth in the story after many townes and stronge holdes by the englysshe men in sondry places of FrauÌ„ce opteined in y e .xxx. .viii. yere of this Charles a frenche man named y e lorde of the I le of Adam IohnÌ„ Uyllers in proper name gatheryng to hym a company of tyrauntes to the nombre of CCC or mo wherof many were old seruauÌ„tes of the kynges housholde than put out by y e Dolphyn other that than had the rule of the kynge by treason of a clerke opteyned the keyes of one of the Gates of Parys and so entred the cytie by nyght by a watche worde amonge them deuysed assocyate to them many Burgonyons and so beynge stronge yode where the kyng was and gate y e rule of his ê‘sone And that done all suche as they myght fynde that than bare any rule they slewe by one meane other so that vpon y e day folowyng was nombred of dede corfes wythin the cytie vpon .iiii. M. Amonge the whiche of noble men was Henry de Marle than Chaunceller of FrauÌ„ce Graunâ—pre with many other And for to haue the more assystence of the coÌ„mon people the sayd Uyllers set y e kyng vpon an horse and ladde hym about the cytie as he that had small reason to guyde hym selfe so ruled all thyng as he his coÌ„pany wolde wherfore the Dolphyn feryng to fall in the daunger of so wylde a coÌ„pany yode to Meldune or and there called to hym suche as then were lefte on lyne to withstaÌ„de these tyrauntes and y e duke of Burgoyne than beynge within the cytie compasser of all thys myschefe as some construed and demed After whyche company to hym gathered he returned to the cytie of Parys and assayled one of the gates But whanne he sawe y e cytezens toke partye agayne hym he thoughte his trauayle loste wherfore without great assaute makyng he called thence his knightes and so departed agayne to the place whiche he came fro and from thens vnto Thuron in appeasynge the countreys townes as he went whiche at those dayes were farre out of frame And than in the .xxxix. yere of the sayd Charles king Henry the .v. landed with a stroÌ„ge power at a place called Touke in Normandy and after layde syege to manye stronge holdes and townes them wanne as Cane Phaleys Roan and other as in the .vi. yere of the sayd Henrye folowynge is more at lengthe declared In tyme of whyche warre thus made by kynge Henry the Dolphyn and the duke of Burgoyne eyther of them prouyded to defende the malyce of the other in so moche that as testyfyeth the frenche cronycle the duke was aduysed to haue taken partie with the Englisshemen This sayeng as wytnesseth an auctour named Floure of hystoryes which toucheth in laten many gestes dedes done by kynges of EnglaÌ„de sayeth that the Frenche men bryng in that for to excuse theyr infortune cowerdyse by reason whereof they loste nat all onely theyr lande but also the honoure name of the same Than lastely the duke beynge of mynde by exortacyon of Phylyppe Iosquyne and IohnÌ„ de TolongnÌ„ with also a lady called the countesse of Grat the duke was reconsyled vnto the Dolphyne and a day of metynge apoynted at Monstruell where eyther of them shulde be accoÌ„panyed with .x. lordes onely without mo At whyche day the sayd prynces with theyr assygned lordes beynge assembled many reasons and argumeÌ„tes were layde and replyed vpon bothe sydes By occasyon wherof one of the Dolphyns company sodainly drewe hys knyfe and strake the duke vnto the harte so that he dyed soone after whyche murder was supposed to be done by a knyght called Tanguyde de Chastell whyche oftyme passed had ben famylyer seruaunt with the duke of OrleyauÌ„ce before slayne by meanes of the sayde duke of Burgoyne After whiche murder thus commytted the lande of Fraunce was broughte in moche more stryfe varyaunce in so moche that Phylyppe the sonne of the sayde IohnÌ„ duke of Burgoyne beynge than in Parys hauynge the rule of y e kynge and the cytie toke partie with the Englysshe men agayne y e Dolphyn By reason wherof as sondry wryters agre king Henryes ê‘tie was greatly augmented holpen so that fynally kynge Henry opteyned moche of his wyll shortly after maryed dame Katheryne doughter of Charles kynge in the .xli. yere of his reygne with assuraunce promyse of the inherytauÌ„ce of the realme of Fraunce to him and his heyres after the dethe of the said Charles as to you more plainly shal be shewed in the .viii. yere of the said Henry the fyfte After whyche maryage concluded and fynysshed yet y e Dolphyn ceased nat to make newe mocyons sterynges Durynge the whiche kynge Charles dyed in Octobre and was buryed at saynt Denys whan he had reygned in greate trouble vpoÌ„ the poynt of .xlii. yeres leauyng after hym as is affirmed by the forenamed auctour Gaguyne a sonne Dolphyn of Uyenne called Charles whiche after was kyng of Frenchemen and was named Charlys the .vii. or the .viii. after some wryters Henry the .iiii. Anglia HEnry the .iiii. of that name and sonne of IohnÌ„ of Gaunte late duke of LaÌ„caster toke possessyon of the domynion of y e realme of Englande as before in the ende of the story of the seconde Rycharde is shewed vpon the laste daye of Septembre in the yere of our lorde a M. CCC.lxxxxix and in the .xix. yere of Charles y e .vii. than kyng of FrauÌ„ce After whyche possessyon so by hym taken anone he made newe officers As the erle of Northumberlande he made Constable of Englande the erle of westmerlaÌ„de was made Marshall syr IohnÌ„ Serle Chaunceller IohnÌ„ Newebery esquyer tresorer and syr Rycharde Clyfforde knyght keper of y e priuey signet And y t done prouysyon was made for hys coronacyon agayne the day of translacyoÌ„ of saynt Edwarde the confessour nexte than commyng And the parlyament was prolonged tyll the tuysdaye folowynge the sayd daye of coronacyoÌ„ Than vpoÌ„ the euyn of the sayd daye of coronacyon the kynge wythin the towre of LondoÌ„ made .xli. knyghtes of the bate wherof .iii. were hys owne sonnes .iii. erles .v. lordes And vpon mondaye beynge the sayd daye of saynt Edwarde the .xiii. daye of October he was crowned at westmynster of the archebysshop of CauÌ„torbury After whych solempnyte fynysshed an honorable feest was holden wythin the greate halle of westmynster where the kyng beyng set in the mydde see of the table the archebisshop of CauÌ„torbury with .iii. other prelates were set at the same table vppon the ryght haÌ„de of the kyng the archebysshoppe of yorke wyth other iiii prelates was set vpoÌ„ that other haÌ„de of the kyng HeÌ„ry the kynges eldest sonne stoode vppoÌ„ the ryghte hande wyth a poyntlesse
batayl was many a noble man slayne vpoÌ„ eyther partye And it was the more to be noted vengeable for there the father was slayn of the sonne the son of the father and brother of brother neuewe of neuewe And in the moneth of August folowynge the duchesse of Brytayne landed at Fulmouth in the prouince of Cornwayll from theÌ„s was conueyed to wynchester where in shorte tyme after kyng HeÌ„ry maryed her in the cathedrall churche of the sayde cytye And soone vpoÌ„ was the eldest doughter of kyng HeÌ„ry named dame BlaÌ„che maryed at Coleyn to the dukes sonne of Bayer Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.iii  Rycharde Merlewe  IohnÌ„ walcot Draper  Anno .iii.  Robert Chichele  IN this yere and .xiiii. day of the moneth of Septembre was y e foresayd duchesse of Brytayne and wyfe of y e kyng receyued wyth great honour into the cytye of London so by the mayre and the cytezyns conueyed vnto westmynster where vpoÌ„ the morowe folowyng she was crowned quene of Englande wyth greate honoure and solempnite the cyrcumstaunce wherof I passe ouer In this yere also Rupertus which after the deposynge of wessenselans was by the electours of the empyre and by auctoryte of Bonyface theâ—â—r â–ª than pope admytted for Emperoure of Rome and came into Englande wyth a goodly companye onely to se the countre and commodytyes of the same The whyche of the kynge was honourably receyued and fested and lastely conueyed by the kynge towarde the see syde where eyther departed from other wyth exchaunge of ryche and precious gyft For thys Rurpartus was named of wryters a man of excellente bounte and largesse And he gaue more lyberally for so moche as all the tyme of hys beynge in EnglaÌ„de he laye here at the kynges costes And whyle he was at LondoÌ„ he was lodged at the house of saynte Iohannâ—s in smythfelde Thys yere also vpoÌ„ saiÌ„t LaureÌ„ce euyn or the .ix. day of August a lorde of Brytayne named the lorde of Castyle in Frenche laÌ„ded within a myle of Plymmouth wyth a great coÌ„pany of NormaÌ„s and Brytons and came vnto the sayd town and lodged there all night and spoyled and robbed the sayd towne And vpon the day folowynge whan they had done what they wolde they retourned agayne to theyr shyppes with plente of pyllage and prysoners suche as they fande Anno domini M. CCCC.iii  Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Thomas Fawconer  wyllyam Askam  Anno .v.  Thomas Pooll  IN thys yere soone after CaÌ„delmasse the foresayd lorde of Castyle trustynge to wynne a lâ—ke enterpryse as in the yere passed he hadde done he beynge accompanyed wyth a stronge nauy of FreÌ„che men Brytons was encountred wyth the Englyshe floot within .ii. myles of Deermouth at a place called Blakâ—pooll â–ª where after loÌ„ge and cruell fyghte y e sayd lord was slayne wyth the more partye of the people and dyuers of hys shyppes takeÌ„ as wytnesseth the Englysshe cronycle wyth dyuers other Englysshe auctours But the FreÌ„che boke excuseth thys scomfyture of FreÌ„chmen and sayeth that by treason oâ— a Gascoyne named Peâ—yâ— or Perot de Languyle whyche shewed vnto the sayd lorde Castyle that he had espyed certayne Englysshe shyppes in a Greke lyghtly wythout resystence to be takeÌ„ caused the sayd lorde to make sayle towarde the sayd towne of Dartmouthe where after he had contynued a certayne tyme hys course he espyed the hotefloâ—e of Englyshe men whyche made toward hym and so at the sayde Blake pool encountâ—â—d and faughte and lastely escaped the daunger of hys enemyes as testyfyeth the sayde French cronycle â–ª but â—atte unhurt for he was so wouÌ„ded in that fyght that he dyed shortly after And the moneth of Apryll folowynge the duke of Clarence wyth the erle of KeÌ„t many other lordes toke shyppynge at Meregate so sayled vnto Scluce in FlauÌ„ders And after the sayde duke had there refresshed hym hys company he toke shyppynge agayne and holdynge hys course towarde SwynÌ„e he was encouÌ„tred wyth .iii. greate carykes of Ieane the whyche he assayled and after longe bekerynge them toke beynge laden wyth marchauÌ„dyse so wyth that pray retourned to Cambre before wynchelsee in the whyche hauen the sayd goodes were caÌ„ted and shared But how it was by varyauÌ„ce amonge them selfe or otherwyse one of the sayde carykes was sodeynly fyred so coÌ„sumed For restytucyon of whyche goodes shyppes y e marchauÌ„tes IanueÌ„ce made after great longe sute to the kyng his couÌ„sayl in whyche passetyme they borowed cloth wolle other marchaundyses amountyng vnto great and notable sommes of dyuers marchauntes of Englande And whanne they sawe that they myghte haue none hope of recouery of theyr loste they sodeynly auoyded the laÌ„de and lafte y e foresayde notable summes vnpayde to the great hynderaunce and vtter vndoynge of many Englysshe marchauntes In thys yere a yoman named wyllyam Serle somtyme yomaÌ„ of kyng Rychardes Robys was takeÌ„ in the marches of ScotlaÌ„de and broughte vnto LondoÌ„ there in the guildhall areygned for the murder of the duke of Glouceter at Calays UpoÌ„ which murder he was attaynt conuyct vppoÌ„ the .xx. daye of Octobre he was draweÌ„ from the towre vnto tyborne and there haÌ„ged and quartred hys hed was after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydg hys .iiii. quarters were sent to .iiii. sondry good townes Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Anno domini M. CCCC.v  wyllyam Lowfte  IohnÌ„ Hyende Draper  Anno .vi.  Stephen Spylman  IN thys yere and moneth of Ianuary were certayne courses of warre ron in smythfelde betwene syr EdmuÌ„de erle of Kent the lorde Moryfa BaroÌ„ of ScotlaÌ„de vppoÌ„ y e chaleÌ„ge of the sayd scottysshe lorde But the erle of KeÌ„t bare hym so valy auntly that to hym was gyueÌ„ y e price of that iourney to hys great honour And in the same yere syr Rycharde Scrope than archebisshop of yorke and y e lorde Moubraye thaÌ„ marshal of EnglaÌ„d with other to them allied for grudge that they bare agayn the kynge gadered vnto theym greate streÌ„gth enteÌ„dyng to haue put downe the kynge as the â—ame than wente wherof the kyng beyng enfourmed in all haste sped towarde theym and met wyth them on thys syde yorke where after askyrmysshe by the sayd lordes made they were thaÌ„ takeÌ„ and after presented vnto y e king at yorke where they were bothe demed to suffre deth for theyr rebellyoÌ„ Than whan the bysshoppe came vnto the place of execucion he prayed y e bowcher to gyue to hym .v. strokes in the worshyp of christes fyue woundes for hys more penauÌ„ce At eueryche of whyche .v. strokes kynge Henry beynge in hys lodgyng had a stroke in hys necke in so moch that he demed that some persone there beynge with hym present hadde stryken him And forthwyth he was stryken wyth the plage of lepyr so that than he knewe it was the hande of god and
Theodalde Guyllyam Rychauyll knyghtes The whyche rescous nat wythstandynge the sayde lorde Talbot well maÌ„fully coÌ„tynued hys syege assawted the towne in ryght cruell maner so that they were fayne to call for more ayde whereof the lord Talbot beyng ware thynkynge that shortly the Frenchmen shuld be constrayned to gyue ouer the towne left the gydyng of the syege vnto syr wyllyam Poyton syr IohnÌ„ RyppelaÌ„d or Tryppelande knyght after departyd After whose departyng with in short whyle y e Dolphyn of UyeÌ„ne Lowys by name and sonne vnto the forenamed Charles Frenche kynge accompanyed wyth the erle of saynte Paule other to the nombre of .xvi. C. knyghtes came vnto the rescous of the sayd towne And after he had a day rested hym and hys sowdiours he sente the forenamed Theodalde wyth a strength of .iiii. C. men for to assayle the forsayde towre of tymbre but lytell hurt dyd they therunto Than the sayd Dolphyn sente an other strength of .vi. C. men to assayle it but the Englyshemen quyt theym so manfully that they slew .viii. score Frenchmen wouÌ„nded ouer .iii. C. wherwyth the Dolphyn beynge greuously amoued assembled the vttermost strength he myght make aswel of the towne and other and set vpon the Englysshe men whiche were â—ore brused with dayly fyght and fewe in nombre and fynally scomfited them and slewe of theym vpon CCC and toke y e rest prysoners Amonge y t whiche the foresayd two Englysshe capitaynes were taken and a kynnesmaÌ„ of the lorde Talbottes or more veryly one of his baste sones And thus was Depe rescowed the Englysshmen dyscomfyted after they had maÌ„fully maynteyned that syege by the space of .ix. wekes and odde dayes Also this yere in y e moneth of August was a great affray iÌ„ Fletestrete atwene the getters of the ynnes of courte and the inhabytauntes of the same strete whiche affray began in y e nyght and so contynued with assawtes and small by kerynges tyll y e next day In whiche season moche people of the cytie thyder was gadered and dyuers men of bothe partyes were slayne and many hurte But lastly by the presence dyscrecyon of y e mayer and shyreffes this affraye was appesed Of the whiche was chyfe occasyoner a man of Clyfforde ynne named Herbotell In this yere also by certayne ambassadoures y t were sente out of EnglaÌ„d into Guyon a maryage was coÌ„cluded in the begynnynge of the yere folowynge atwene the kynge and y e erles doughter of Armenak whiche conclusion was after dysalowed and put by by the meanes of the erle of Suffolke whiche kyndled a newe brande of brunynge enuy atwene y e lorde protectour and hym and toke fyre in suche wyse that it lefte not tyll bothe partyes with many other were consumed and slayne wherof ensued moche myschefe within the realme and losse of all Normandy as after to you shall appere Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xlii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C. xlili  Thomas Beaumount  IonÌ„ Athyrley Irenmonger  Anno .xxi.  Rycharde Nordon  IN thys .xxi. yere the foresayde erle of Suffolke whych as before is touched had fordon the coÌ„clusyon of the maryage takeÌ„ by the ambassadours betwene the kyng and y e erle of Armenakes doughter wente ouer hym selfe wyth other vnto hym assygned there in FrauÌ„ce concluded a mariage betwene the kyng and dame Margarete the kynges doughter of Cecyle and of Hierusalem as sayth the Englyshe cronycle And for that mariage to brynge about to the sayd kyng of Cecyle was deliuered y e duchye of Angeou and erledome of Mayne whych are called the keyes of Normandy But the FreÌ„che wryter Gaguyne sayth in hys latyne cronycle y t about thys tyme the erle of Suffolke came vnto Charles the Frenche kyng to a towne in Lorayn named Naunce or NauÌ„t axed of hym his doughter to be quene of England but he gyueth to her no name The whyche request of the sayd Charles to the sayde erle was grauÌ„ted Also he affermeth lytel tofore that season a peace betwene bothe realmes was concluded for the terme of .xxii. moneths whych peace endured but a whyle after And thys yere vpon Candelmas euyn the steple of sait Poules church in LondoÌ„ was set on fyre by tempest of lyghtnynge and lastly queÌ„ched by greate dylygence and laboure of many persones But of all that there laboured the morowe masse preeste of Bowe church in chepe was moste commended and noted Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xliii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xliiii  Nycholas wyfforde  Thomas Catworthe Grocer  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ Norman  THys .xxii. yere y e erle of Stafforde was made or created duke of Bukkyngham the erle of warwyke duke of warwyke the erle of Dorset marques of Dorset and the erle of Suffolke marquys of Suffolke The whyche marquys of Suffolke soone after wyth hys wyfe and other honourable personages aswell of men as of women with great apparayl of chayres and other costyous ordenaunce for to conuey the forenamed lady Margarete into England sayled into FrauÌ„ce where they were honourably receyued and so taryed there all thys mayres yere In thys yere was also an acte made by auctoryte of the common couÌ„sayll of London that vppon the sondaye shuld no maner of thynge with in the fraunchyse of y e citie be bought or solde nother vytayll nor other thynge nor none artyfycer shulde brynge hys ware to any man to be worne or occupyed that daye as tayllours garmentes or cordewayners shoys and so in lykewyse of all other occupacyons The whyche ordenaunce helde but a whyle Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliiii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xlv  Stephyn Foster  Henry Frowyke Mercer  Anno .xxiii.  Hughe wyche  THys .xxiii. yere and moneth of the foresayd lady Margarete came ouer into EnglaÌ„d and in the moneth folowynge she was maryed vnto kyng HeÌ„ry at a towne called Sowthwyke in the countre of Hamshyre And froÌ„ thens she was honourably conueyed by the lordes and estates of thys laÌ„d whyche mette wyth her in sondry places wyth greate retynewe of men in sondry lyueryes wyth theyr sleuys browdered and som betyn wyth gold smythes werkes in moste costly maner And specyally the duke of Glouceter mette wyth her wyth fyue hundreth men in one lyuerey And so she was conueyed vnto Blacke heth where vppon the .xviii. day of May she was mette with the mayre aldermen and sheryfes of the cytye and the craftes of the same in brown blewe wyth brawderyd sleuys That is to meane euery mystery or crafte wyth conysaunce of hys mystery and red hoodes vppon eyther of theyr heddes and so the same daye broughte her vnto London where for her were ordeyned sumptuous and costly pageÌ„tes and resemblauÌ„ce of dyuerse olde hystoryes to y e great comforte of her and suche as came wyth her y e maner whereof I passe ouer for lengthynge of the tyme. And so wyth great tryuÌ„phe she was broughte vnto westmynster where vppon the
.xxx. daye of the moneth of Maye that was the sondaye after Trynyte sondaye she was solemply crowned After whyche feeste iustes were there holden by thre dayes continual within the seyntwary before y e abbey Of thys maryage are of dyuers wryters lefte dyuers remembraunces sayenge that thys maryage was vnprofytable for the realme dyuerse wayes For fyrste was gyuen vp for her oute of the kynges possession the duchye of Angeou and the erledome of Mayne And for the costes of her conueynge into thys lande was axed in playne parlyamente a fyftene and an halfe by the marquys of Suffolke By reason whereof he grewe in such hatered of the people that fynally it coste hym hys lyfe And ouer that it appered that god was nat pleased wyth that mariage For after thys day the fortune of the worlde beganne to fal from y e kyng so that he loste hys frendes in Englande and hys reuenewes in Fraūce For shortly after all was ruled by the quene and her counsayl to the great dysprofyte of the kyng hys realme and to the greate maugre and obloquy of the quene The whych as syn that tyme hath ben well prouyd had many a wrong and false reporte made of her whych were to longe to reherse All whyche mysery fyll for brekynge of the promyse made by the kyng vnto the erle of Armenakkys doughter as before in the .xx. yere of the kyng is touched as agreeth moste wryters whyche mysery in thys story shall somdeale appere as fyrst by the losyng of Normandy the deuisiō of the lordes within thys realme the rebelliō of y e cominaltye agayne theyr prynce soueraygne fynally the kynge deposed and the quene wyth the prynce fayne to fle the lande loste the rule thereof for euer Anno. dn̄i M.iiii C.xlvi  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xlvii  Robert Horne  Iohn̄ Olney Mercer  Anno .xxv.  Godfrey Boloyne  THys .xxv. yere was a parlyament holdē at saynt Edmondes Bury in Suffolke To y e whiche towne all the cōmons of that coūtre were warned to come in theyr moste defēcyble aray to gyue attendaunce vpō the kyng And so soone as thys parlyamēt was begō and the lordes assembled syr Hūfrey duke of Glouceter and vncle vnto y e kyng shortly after was arrested by the vycounte Beawmōde thā hygh cōstable of Englande whome accompanied y e duke of Bukkynghm̄ other And after this arest was executed all his owne seruaūtes were put from him .xxxii of the pryncypall of theym were also put vnder arest sente vnto dyuers prysons whereof arose a great murmour amonge the people Than thus cōtynuyng thys parlyament wythin .vi. dayes after the duke was arrested he was founde dede in hys bedde beynge the .xxiiii. daye of February Of whose murdre dyuers reportes at made whyche I passe ouer Than hys corps was layd opyn y t all mē myght se hym but no wonde was founde on hym Of the honourable fame of thys man a longe style I myght make of y e good rule that he kepte thys lande in durynge the none age of the kynge and of hys honourable housholde libertye which passed all other before hys tyme and trewe of hys allegeaunce that no mā coude with ryght accuse hī but malycyous persones whych hys glorious honour fame lafte nat to maligne agayne hym tyll he were put frome all wordly rule and specyally for it was thought that durynge hys lyfe he wolde withstāde the delyuery of Angeou Mayne before promysed Thys for hys honourable and lyberall demeanure was surnamed the good duke of Glouceter Than after he had lyen opyn a season y t all men myghte be assured of hys dethe the corps was honourably prouided for and so cōueyed vnto saynt Albonys there buryed nere vnto the shryne of saynt Albone to whose soule god be mercyfull Amen And whan this noble prynce was thus enteryd fyue persones of hys housholde that is to saye syr Roger Chamberlayne knyght Myddelton Herbarde Arthur esquyers one Rycharde Nedā yeman were sente vnto Londō there arayned and iuged to be drawē hāged and quartered Of the whych sentēce drawynge hāgynge were put in execuciō But whā they were cut downe to be quartered y e Marquys of Suffolke there beyng presēt shewed y e kynges chartour for thē so were deliuered to the great reioysyng of y e multytude of y e people there beyng present But for thys the grudge murmour of y e people ceased nat agayne the Marquys of Suffolke for the deth of the good duke of Glouceter of whose murdre he was specyally suspected Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xlvii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xlviii  Wyllyam Abraham  Iohn̄ Gedney Draper  Anno .xxvi.  Thomas Scot.  IN thys .xxvi. yere after concordaūce of moste wryters or nere there about y e .xxiii. scisme of y e church ceased that before had cōtynued betwene Eugeny the .iiii. Felix the .v. vpon .xvi. yeres Thys scisme as before is touched began by reason of the deposycyō of the sayde Eugeny at the coūsayll of Basile for that that he wolde nat obserue the decrees before made in the coūsayll of Cōstaūce other causes to hym layde But yet that deposyng natwythstandynge perforce he cōtynued pope by the terme of .xiiii. yeres after And the sayde Felix at the sayd coūsayll admitted in lyke maner cōtynued as pope by all that sayde season lyke as before to you I haue shewed in the .xvii. yere of thys kynge And as now by exortacyon of crysten prynces as the kynge of England whose messangers in y e behalfe were the bysshoppe of Norwyche and the lord of saint Iohn̄s other princes the sayd pope Felix to sette a perfyte vnyon in the churche in thys yere of hys owne volūte resigned hys auctorytie of papacy and submytted hym vnto the obediēce of Nicholas the .v. of that name nat wythstandynge that the sayde Felix was a man of great byrthe allied to the more partye of all crysten prynces And thys Nycholas a mā of lowe byrthe of vnknowē kynred wythin the cytie of Ieane Than was Felix made legate of Fraunce cardynal of Sauoye and lyued after a blessed holy lyfe so ended And as some wryters testifye god for hym hath shewed dyuers miracles syns he dyed And for thys scysme thus gracyously was ended a vercyfyer made thys verse folowynge ¶ Lux fussit mundo cessit Felix Nicholao The whych verse is thus to meane in Englyshe ¶ Lyght into the worlde now dothe sprynge and shyne ¶ For Felix vnto Nicholas all frely doth resyne Also as testifieth Gaguyne also some englyshe wryters y t trewys betwene Englād Fraūce cōtynuyng a knyght of y e Englysh partie named syr Fraūceys Arrogonoyse toke a town vpō the borders of Normādy belōgyng vnto y e duke of Brytayne For y t which he cōplayned hym vnto Charles the Frēch kyng he at the sayd dukes request sent